New coach Hardin ready to lead McNeese softball into new era
Published 9:29 am Monday, January 12, 2015
McNeese State’s softball team will start the post Mike Smith era officially today when spring practice opens.
Joanna Hardin moves up from pitching coach and lead recruiter to the top job. After two years under Smith, who took the head coaching job at Ole Miss last summer, Hardin is ready for her new challenge.
“I have been counting down the days since Thanksgiving,” Hardin said. “We are excited about our opportunity this season and are ready to go.”
During Smith’s three years at McNeese, the Cowgirls reached new heights. In his first week at the helm the Cowgirls beat the No. 1 team in the country and last year broke 16 team records and tied another seven.
They finished 40-17 overall and 20-6 in the Southland Conference, but once again fizzled at the end, failing to capture the SLC tournament and earn a berth in the NCAA postseason.
Still, Smith raised the level of interest in the program, helped in large part by Hardin the last two seasons.
“A standard has been set here,” Hardin said. “There has been a quality of work done and the talent hasn’t dwindled.”
Most importantly, six starters are back from last year’s record-setting team and 14 letterwinners.
“We are very fortunate that we have so many talented players coming back,” Hardin said.
Smith, who called Hardin the “perfect choice” to be the next head coach, left the Cowgirls with once again one of the tougher schedules in the nation.
In-state foes LSU and Louisiana-Lafayette are joined by Baylor as part of a 26-game home schedule this spring. McNeese will also host its own Cowgirl Classic on Feb. 27-March 1 with Memphis, Texas Tech and Holy Cross making up the tournament field.
The Cowgirls open the season with four straight tournaments with the South Alabama Sand Dollar Classic serving as the season opening weekend (Feb. 6-8). McNeese will also take part in the Houston Hilton Plaza Invitational (Feb. 13-15), Louisiana Classic (Feb. 20-22) and its own Cowgirl Classic.
“Our schedule is once again a real good challenge for us,” said Hardin.
One thing Hardin wants to make clear is that while she wants to build on the past, this year’s team won’t live in it.
“Last year is over,” she said. “We have established ourselves as a different program.”
That program starts in full today.
(Rick Hickman/American Press)
