HEAD COACH

at the helm. Player of the Year. The next season, The Illinois native also became Mississippi she finished her senior campaign as one of the State’s winningest coach in 2009, earning three finalists for the prestigious award after the mark with a 4-3 win over Purdue on becoming the school’s second multiple-time first Feb. 13. Just days later, all of his hard work team all-American. Bures and Bramlett went on and dedication to the sport paid off when he to be nominated to the player of the year watch B was selected the head coach of the United list, with Bramlett advancing to the top 25 in both States Women’s National Team for the 2009- 2008 and 2009. U 2012 quadrennium. Guiding a contingent that Miller’s first season also saw the Bulldogs go L included Bulldog senior Chelsea Bramlett and 34-30 and earn their second-consecutive NCAA former MSU all-American Courtney Bures, postseason berth - the first time the Maroon and L Miller led the U.S. to gold medals at Canada White achieved consecutive NCAA Regional D Cup, the of Softball and Japan bids. Furthermore, Mississippi State broke or Cup. tied eight team single-season records in his O His latest accolades came just a couple of months after he earned a distinguished G place among ’s coaching THE MILLER FILE S greats in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Miller became just FULL NAME: Charles Jay Miller JAY MILLER the third SEC head coach to be inducted into the annals, joining of LSU HIRE DATE: August 2, 2002 Head Coach • Eighth Season and Joyce Compton of South Carolina as part of the association’s 18th class. BIRTHDATE: May 25, 1956 Illinois State ‘78 His induction into the hall capped a 2008 season that saw his Bulldogs finish with EDUCATION: Completed International Studies a 41-22 record, the second-most wins in Program at University of Grenoble (France) in Utilizing a coaching model that emphasizes school history, and set school records for 1975; Bachelor of Science in Psychology and hard work, loyalty, enthusiasm, dedication to the batting average (.311) and stolen bases (126). Sociology at Illinois State University in 1978; classroom and a commitment on the playing The ‘08 campaign also saw him reach Masters of Science in Education with emphasis field, Jay Miller further cemented his reputation a couple of personal milestones, as he won in counseling and personnel services at Purdue as one of the most well-respected coaches in his 900th career game with a victory over University in 1979. ABD in Counseling Psychology the sport during a 2009 year filled with acco- Syracuse on Mar. 1 at the NFCA Leadoff lades. Classic and coached his 1,500th career game FAMILY: Wife - Lacy Lee Baker. The couple has a daughter, Nicole, 18. Under his leadership last season, his on May 3 in a win over Arkansas. Mississippi State squad returned to the post- In more than two decades of coaching COACHING EXPERIENCE: Head Coach at season for the sixth time in his seven seasons softball at the Division I level at Missouri and Purdue (1980-81); Assistant Coach at Missouri Mississippi State, Miller has helped (1982-84); Head Coach at Missouri (1987-02); develop the talents of a plethora of Head Coach at Mississippi State (2002-Present). players who have gone on to write their own success stories. Over the INTERNATIONAL COACHING EXPERIENCE: last 12 years, he has had the plea- Pitching Coach for Netherlands Antilles at Pan sure of mentoring 47 all-conference Am Games (1987) and World Championships players, as well as 10 all-Americans. (1990); USA Softball National Team Selection In addition, Miller has coached two Committee (1992-1996); Team Leader For players - Barb Wright at Missouri USA Softball National Team at Pan American and Iyhia McMichael at MSU - to Qualifying Tournament (1994); USA National Team three different conference player of Coaching Staff (1997-present); Assistant Coach the year accolades. Since 1996, 39 for USA Softball National Team at Pan American and World Championship qualifying tournament players have secured conference (1997); Head Coach for USA Blue National player of the week laurels under Team at Canada Cup and American Challenge Miller as well. Series (1999); Head Coach for USA Red National Through his first seven seasons Team at US Cup (2001); Assistant Coach for in the third base box at MSU, 37 USA Red National Team at Softball Shootout single-season school records have and Canada Cup (2001); Head Coach for USA been set, and three players have Softball Elite Team at Canada Cup (2002-2004); earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA Head Coach for USA Softball National Team at First-Team All-America honors a World University Games (2004); Assistant Coach total of seven times. Bramlett earned for USA Softball National Team at Pacific Rim first team honors for the third-straight Sports Summit (June, 2005); Assistant Coach season in 2009, becoming the first for USA Elite National Team at Canada Cup Bulldog to receive first-team distinc- (June, 2005); Assistant Coach for USA Softball tion in her first three seasons. National Team at Intercontinental Cup (July, Bramlett was also named to the 2005); Assistant Coach for USA Softball World NFCA all-region team along with University Team (2006); Head Coach for USA Softball Junior National Team at Pan American Sammie Jo Bailey, Ali Bainbridge Qualifier (2006-2007), Head Coach for USA and Ka’ili Smith, giving Miller 10 Junior World Championships - gold medal (2007), players who have received the Head Coach for USA National Team at Canada honor 15 collective times. Cup - gold medal (2009), Head Coach for USA In his first season with the National Team at World Cup of Softball - gold Maroon & White, McMichael was medal (2009), Head Coach for USA National named a top-10 finalist for USA Team at Japan Cup - gold medal (2009).

40 HEAD COACH JAY MILLER first campaign in Starkville, then shattered two morere thethe followingfoollowing season. Miller stresses academic excellence as much, if notnot more,moore, thanthan on-field excellence. The 2010 Dawgs posted the top fallfall grade-pointgrade-pooinnt average among MSU’s female teams with a program-bestgram-best 3.493.449 GPA. The 2008 squad had a school-record 10 playerss namednammeed NFCANFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete en route to earning the teameam thethe eighth-eighth- highest grade-point average in Division I softball. Thathat editionediitit on alsoalsso had 14 players earn academic honors from the SEC,ECC, givinggivingn StateState 70 conference academic honorees during Miller’ss tenure.tenuurre. SinceSiinnce 1985, Miller has had 118 conference academic honororr rollroll picksppicks and,and, in 2007, Mississippi State earned nine NFCA All-Americamerica Scholar-Scholar- Athlete selections for the second-straight year en routeute toto 49 honor-hoonor- ees in Miller’s seven seasons. Success with MState is nothing new for Miller, ass it hashas followedfolloowew d him at every stop of his coaching career. Having postedposteed winningwiw nnini g records in all but two of his 27 seasons as a collegiateatte headhead coach,cooaca h, Miller has coached his teams to 40+-win seasons on eighteighhtt occa-occa-a sions, with the 2004 version of the Bulldogs falling justjust oneonone victoryvictc oro y shy of number nine. His 1986 Oklahoma City squadaad turnedtuurneed in anan eye-popping 50-win campaign as the Stars compiledd a 50-26500--226 markmarkk en route to a national runner-up finish. Mixed in with his collegiate success, Miller hass alsoalsso builtbbuuililt ana impressive resumè on the international stage. His appointmentaappoinntmennt asas head coach of the national team was the culminationon ofof a journeyjouournneyy that started from 1992-96 when he served on the NationalNatioonaal TeamTeaeam selection committee that would, ultimately, be in chargerge ofof choosingchhoosis ngg the inaugural USA Softball team to compete in the 1996119966 OlympicsOlympm ics in Atlanta. He has served in various capacities with the organization,nizattion, includ-incn lud- ing head coaching stints of the USA Red squad thatatt capturedcaptureed goldgoldl at the 2001 U.S. Cup and the USA Elite team that tooktook homehome thethe 2003 Canada Cup championship after claiming runner-uper-up honorshonon rs thethe previous year. He also was an assistant coach for thee USAUSSA NationalNaationala Team in gold medal runs at both the Pacific Rim Sportsorrts SummitSummit andand the Intercontinental Cup in 2004. He was also on thee coachingcoaching staffstafa f of the USA Elite squad in its run to a silver medal at thee 200520005 CanadaCannaada Cup, and the 2006 World University squad, including Bures,BBurees, thatthat wonwow n the gold medal in Taiwan. The 2007 slate saw him skipperppper thethee UnitedUnited States Junior National Team to the gold medal at thehee JuniorJunior WorldWorld Championships in The Netherlands after the squad postedpoosted a perfectperffect 10-0 mark in the qualifier the previous fall. “Coaching with USA Softball has helped tremendouslydoussly becausebeecause you are working only working with the best coachesess inin thethe UnitedUnited States, but the top in the world also,” he said. “It hass eenablednaabledd meme to exchange ideas and talk about what works and whatat doesn’tdooesn’’t work.wwoorkr . That’s a continual process. You do that each time.” That interaction with some of the top names inn thethhe sportsportt notnoto only helped him in Starkville, but also during his 15-year-yeaar tenuretenure as the head coach at Missouri. There, he led the Tigersers toto a pairpairir ofof Women’s College World Series appearances in 1991991 andandd 1994,1999 44, five NCAA Regional appearances and compiled a 556-3095556-30309 overallovo eraalll record. In 1991 and 1997, his squads won the overallll leagueleaague cham-chhamm- pionship and, on three occasions, his squads have takenaken theththe leaguelel aaguue tournament title. No stranger to success, one would think that Millerer wouldwould havehave toto have at least one favorite coaching moment in his firstst 27 seasonsseaasonsn ofof coaching fastpitch softball. “I don’t really have a favorite moment,” he said.idd. “Every“Eveery yearyear you have a favorite moment and every year you haveavee memorablemeemorablee moments - from teams that went to the World Series,, to tthehe OOlympiclympm icc team when they won the first gold medal, to the nationaltiional teamteam pro-pro- grams and the things that they have done. “Even years when you don’t win as many gamess asas youyou wouldwould like, you still have memorable moments. You still havevve kidskids thatthat youyoouu live and die for everyday in practice and every game thatthat theythey gogo outout there and play.” The enthusiastic mentor, who turns 54 on May 25,25, hashas hadhad hishiss share of successes over the years. His is a résumémé thatthhat includesincluddeess a handful of conference and region coaching honors,orss, as wellwelell ass team successes such as Women’s College World Serieseeries andana d toptotop 1010

41 HEAD COACH JAY MILLER

MILLERÊS RAP SHEET Player Accomplishments Since 1985

All-America Selections ...... 31 All-Region Selections ...... 45 Conference Player of the Year Honors ...... 3 All-Conference Recipients ...... 45 All-SEC Recipients ...... 16 All-Conference Tournament Recipients ...... 19 All-SEC Tournament Recipients...... 2 NCAA Regional all-tournament honors ...... 8 Conference Players/Pitchers of the Week ...... 85 SEC Players/Pitchers of the Week...... 10 Pro Softball Draftees ...... 8 Academic All-Americans...... 45 Academic All-District selections ...... 24 Conference Academic Honorees ...... 144 SEC Academic Honorees...... 85

MILLERÊS COACHING CAREER 28th Season Overall (Eighth at MSU)

Season School W-L Pct. 1980 Purdue 13-10 .565 appearances, and international experiences in have an administration that is supportive and 1981 Purdue 16-11 .593 1985 Oklahoma City 28-32 .467 several countries, as well as on U.S. soil. wants you to be successful and provides 1986 Oklahoma City 50-26 .658 But, when it is all said and done, Miller still you with the resources so that you can be 1987 Oklahoma City 46-27 .630 remains humble, each day arriving in his office successful. 1988 Missouri 44-18 .710 well before many of his colleagues to plan out “I think there are some tremendous ath- 1989 Missouri 35-22 .614 the day’s, and sometimes the week’s, agenda. letes overall in the South. If you look at 1990 Missouri 30-14 .682 1991 Missouri *39-14 .736 “In whatever you do, you’re only going to get the states in which the SEC encompasses, 1992 Missouri 41-14 .745 out what you put in,” Miller said. “That’s a key to they haven’t had a lot of experience playing 1993 Missouri 31-18 .633 understand and we want kids with that kind of fastpitch softball, but they are getting more 1994 Missouri 40-23 .635 work ethic and that kind of dedication.” and more.” 1995 Missouri 47-19 .712 Entering his 28th season as a Division I head Unlike some of his counterparts in other 1996 Missouri 31-22 .585 1997 Missouri *47-16 .746 coach, the NCAA’s 11th-winningest active coach sections of the United States, Miller was a 1998 Missouri 36-20 .643 will carry a 954-607 record into his eighth year at ball fan of a different type growing up. With 1999 Missouri 41-21 .661 Mississippi State – a job that he took the reigns the Aurora Seal Masters – winners of the first 2000 Missouri 34-27 .557 of towards the end of July, 2002. Since then, he two-ever world titles in men’s fastpitch soft- 2001 Missouri 31-28 .525 has become comfortable with a team that, he ball – training nearby, the young Miller often 2002 Missouri 29-33 .468 2003 Mississippi State 34-30 .531 knows, will give him some more of those memo- found himself emulating a star pitcher throw- 2004 Mississippi State 39-26 .600 rable moments he so cherishes. ing out of a circle, rather than off of a mound. 2005 Mississippi State 35-31 .530 “I think that there is tremendous potential His experiences as a fastpitch player on 2006 Mississippi State 33-28 .541 here at Mississippi State,” Miller said. “You the men’s major level towards the end of 2007 Mississippi State 35-27 .565 his high school and throughout 2008 Mississippi State 41-22 .651 2009 Mississippi State 28-28 .500 his college careers, unexpect- edly, helped move him into the Totals Yrs Record Pct. at Purdue 2 29-21 .580 coaching world when he was at Oklahoma City 3 124-85 .562 completing his master’s work at Missouri 15 556-309 .643 at Purdue. Although dead set at Mississippi State 7 245-192 .561 on a career in the psychol- Totals 27 954-607 .611 ogy or counseling world, Miller * - Conference Champions found himself taking on pitching coach (and later head coach) OKLAHOMA CITY (1984-1987) duties for the Purdue women’s • 1986 NAIA National Runner-Up club team in the late 70’s. • 1987 NAIA National Championships (4th) “I never really thought about • 1987 Southwest Region Coach of the Year • 1986, 1987 District IX Coach of the Year coaching,” he said. “The faculty sponsor of Purdue’s women’s MISSOURI (1988-2002) club team asked me if I would • 1990, 1991 Big Eight Coach of the Year come out and help him with • 1991 Big Eight Champions the pitchers because I told him • Women’s College World Series: 1991, 1994 • NCAA Regionals: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1999 that I had played a lot and so • 1994, 1997 Midwest Region Coach of the Year I did. That was in August. In • 1997 Big 12 Champions October, he resigned and the • 1997 Big 12 Tournament Champions players asked me if I would be • 1997 Big 12 Coach of the Year their coach. MISSISSIPPI STATE (2003-Present) Just more than three years • NCAA Regionals: 2003-2005, 2007, 2008-2009 following his informal introduc- tion to the coaching world,

42 HEAD COACH JAY MILLER

teams finished each season with no less than 30 victories, making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Regionals with a 41-21 clip in 1999. Having reeled off a 556-309 record in 15 seasons as head coach of the Black and Gold, he parted ways with Columbia following the 2002 campaign to take over the reigns of the Maroon and White. In addition to his coaching prowess, Miller is a leading authority on softball technology, hav- ing written more than 30 articles for professional publication. He most recently authored a chapter entitled “Offensive Strategy” for The Softball Coaching Bible, published by Human Kinetics Press in 2002. Miller has also developed five softball skills videotapes that are marketed internationally. He is also considered one of the top softball clinicians in the world, having conducted more than 100 camps and clinics in the United States, Netherlands Antilles, Italy, Czech Republic, Holland, France and Malaysia. He began his educational career at the University of Grenoble in Grenoble, France, Miller took on his first full-time coaching duties 1987, including a 14-18 mark the season prior completing his international studies program as an assistant at Missouri where, years later, he to Miller’s rehiring. there before obtaining his Bachelor’s of Science would eventually make a big name for himself. “It was really an opportunity to build, or to Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Illinois While in Columbia under current South Carolina rebuild, the program there,” said Miller of the State in Normal, Ill., in 1978. He completed his coach Joyce Compton, he served primarily as opportunity to return to his roots, of sorts. “That’s Master’s Degree in Education with an emphasis the pitching coach and Missouri rattled off an what we worked on doing. We went out and in counseling and personnel services at Purdue impressive 107-51 overall record during the worked hard and tried to bring some players in University in 1979. stretch – a mark which included one conference that could compete at the top level, and we got Miller and wife Lacy Lee Baker, Executive championship, two NCAA Regional appear- back to the World Series in four years.” Director of the National Fastpitch Coaches ances and an appearance in the 1983 Women’s However, the Tigers flirted with greatness Association, have one daughter, Nicole (3-30- College World Series. immediately, capturing either second or third in 91), who is a freshman softball player at Lake He received his first head coaching stint the Big Eight over the next three years before Forest College in Illinois. in 1984 as skipper of now-NAIA powerhouse reeling off a 39-14 record in 1991 en route Oklahoma City who, at the time, were Division to both the conference regular season and I and looked to harvest recruits that state- tournament championships, as well as a WINNINGEST ACTIVE COACHES powerhouses Oklahoma and Oklahoma State fifth-place finish in the Women’s College *NCAA Division I Coaches (By Victories) would grow to envy. Miller coached the Chiefs World Series. The transformation struck Coach, Current Team Yrs Record one season at the Division I level before starting gold for Miller as well, as he was decorated 1. , Arizona 22 1,361-314-2 Oklahoma City’s dominance in the NAIA with with his second-straight Big Eight Coach of a pair of top-five finishes (2nd in 1986, 4th in the Year laurels. 2. , Fresno St. 30 1,345-479-3 1987) in his final two seasons with the team, Miller continued his work towards great- 3. , Iowa 31 1,220-565-5 both of which produced District IX Coach of the ness the following season as he led Mizzou Year accolades. His team’s 1987 achievements to its second 40-win season since taking 4. Yvette Girouard, LSU 30 1,200-387-1 earned him Southwest Region Coach of the over the program (44-18 in 1988) and its Year honors. best season since 1981, then churned out 5. , Michigan 26 1,130-404-4 “In March, during the first year that I was a 31-18 clip the following season despite 6. Joyce Compton, S. Carolina 33 1,127-518-3 there, they announced that they were going to losing six starters to graduation. In 1994, change to the NAIA the following year,” said the Tigers finished seventh at the WCWS 7. Elaine Sortino, Massachusetts 30 1,066-442-5 Miller of the surprise move. “I coached there for after filing a 40-23 record, then turned in a 8. , DePaul 28 1,018-491-6 three years and we were very successful before school-record 47 wins the following season I had an opportunity to go back to Missouri.” on the way to their second-straight trip to 9. , C. Michigan 30 980-580-5 Although his coaching career in the Sooner the NCAA postseason. 10. , California 23 970-477-0 state officially came to a close when he accepted Two years later, 10 years to the date fol- the offer to become Missouri’s sixth head coach lowing his being named Missouri’s skipper, 11. JAY MILLER, MISSISSIPPI ST. 27 954-607-0 in 1987, Miller was still reaping the benefits of the Mizzou went the distance in the conference 12. Donna Papa, N. Carolina 26 935-513-5 hard work in his career. While in Oklahoma City, and conference tournament for the fourth the site of the Amateur Softball Association’s time in school history, achieving the pro- 13. , Tennessee 22 917-316-2 Hall of Fame, he developed close contacts while gram’s best record since 1983 (47-16) and working with the ASA that allowed him to draw securing its fourth postseason appearance 14. , Sam Houston St. 24 910-500-1 his first international experience as a pitching under his direction. The run earned Miller 15. , Texas Tech 21 824-484-1 coach for Netherlands Antilles in the 1987 Pan his third conference coaching honor and his Am Games in Indianapolis. first such accolade in the Big 12. 16. Melinda Fischer, Illinois St. 26 808-539-2 Months later, he returned to Columbia, Mo., “The awards mean that you have good 17. , Texas A&M 23 782-443-2 to find a program much different than when he players,” he said. “It is a reflection on the left three years prior. While Mizzou had accumu- team and the kind of work and effort and 18. Lana Richmond, SE Missouri St. 26 756-531-2 lated a .677 winning percentage during Miller’s commitment that your players put in and the 19. , Connecticut 26 743-462-5 stay as an assistant coach, the program had dedication that they have to your program.” struggled since, going 89-72 (.553) from 1984- Over the next four years, his Missouri 20. Bob Coolen, Hawai’i 23 735-503-1

43 ANNIE SMITH

job of making sure our players are in the “Annie is as much a part of this pro- shape that they need to be in order to gram as I am,” Miller said. “She is a tire- compete at this level. less worker and the glue that holds ev- “I’ve seen her really progress as a erybody together around here. She has coach over the years. She’s done a great developed into an outstanding hitting job being in every aspect of coaching coach and does a good job developing B and I think she will be a big plus for our our young hitters. She is a big reason for ballclub.” our success.” U Smith’s formal introduction to Miller A three-year player at Grinnell Col- L came during the 1995-96 year when she lege in Grinnell, Iowa, Smith earned Most volunteered helping in various aspects of Improved honors in 1993. Primarily a sec- L the Missouri program. The next year, she ond and third baseman for the Pioneers, D served as a regular staff member at Mis- she was elected team co-captain prior to souri’s softball camps and clinics and as her senior season. O a graduate teaching assistant in the Mis- Smith received her Bachelor of Arts souri Health and Exercise Sciences de- degree in History and Psychology from G partment. In July of 1996, she was hired Grinnell in 1995. While at Missouri, she S full time as a graduate assistant coach on completed her coursework for a Masters Miller’s staff, where she was involved in of Education degree in Health and Exer- all phases of the Black and Gold program, cise Sciences with an emphasis in Sports ANNIE SMITH including the upkeep and maintenance of Psychology in 2002 while maintaining a Assoc. Head Coach • Eighth Season the Missouri softball stadium. 3.85 cumulative GPA. “I feel very fortunate to have had the “I enjoy being able to work with some Grinnell College ‘95 opportunity to work alongside coach Mill- of the best players and coaches in the er,” Smith said. “He has given me the op- nation day after day,” Smith said. “Hav- portunity to mature and grow as a coach ing the opportunity to see players grow on Associate Head Coach Annie Smith and I am very appreciative of all that I and off the field as they apply their experi- enters her 14th year as a collegiate soft- have learned.” ences of playing softball to everyday life ball coach, her eighth season at Missis- Since joining Miller’s staff full time, makes my job very enjoyable.” sippi State and her 14th as an assistant Smith has also been instrumental in fund- The daughter of Robin and Carolyn to head coach Jay Miller, officially joining raising efforts for both the Missouri and Smith of College Station, Texas, was born the Bulldog staff on Aug. 26, 2002. Mississippi State softball programs, in- July 22, 1974, in Pasadena, Calif. Her Smith’s duties include, but are not lim- cluding organizing the Diamond Club, vol- hobbies include softball, reading, work- ited to, hitting and defense instruction, re- unteer work in the community, speaking ing out and shopping. Smith is currently cruiting coordination, administration and to groups and running clinics to promote single. practices, travel coordination, camp co- the sport and the University and design- direction, assistance in the implementing ing newsletters and websites. of MSU Softball’s strength/conditioning Smith is also instrumental in keep- THE SMITH FILE program, and assisting in the fundraising ing track of all Mississippi State softball and promotion of the program. alumni and contacting them for future FULL NAME: Adrianna L. Smith “Annie is crucial to our success,” Mill- annual Fall Alumni games and Alumni er said. “Annie has been with me for the Recognition Days in the Spring. In addi- HIRE DATE: August 26, 2002 last 14 years and knows what I want from tion, she writes, edits and produces the our team practice-wise, on-the-field and Bulldog Diamond Club newsletter which BIRTHDATE: July 22, 1974 off-the-field. She is a certified strength is then distributed to all members of the and conditioning coach who does a good Mississippi State Softball Diamond Club. EDUCATION: Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology at Grinnell College in 1995; Masters of Education in Health and Exercise Science with an emphasis in Sports Psychology at Mis- souri in 2002; NSCA Certifi ed Strength and Con- ditioning coach.

FAMILY: Daughter of Robin and Carolyn Smith of College Station, Texas ... Native of Manhat- tan, Kansas

COACHING EXPERIENCE: Graduate Assistant Coach at Missouri (1996-99); Assistant Coach at Missouri (1999-02); Assistant Coach at Missis- sippi State (2002-Present).

COACHING PHILOSOPHY: To create an en- vironment where every athlete can reach their greatest potential both on and off the fi eld. I want our players to develop a deep sense of pride in the program and be able to leave knowing they had one of the greatest experiences of their life and be able to apply those experiences as they move on.

44 KAREN JOHNS

Johns returns to the collegiate coaching An outstanding career at USC led her to ranks following a two-year hiatus in which she a heralded tenure as a member of the United served as Associate Executive Director of the States National Team. National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Johns earned her fi rst National Team nod in During her seven years as a head coach, 1989, and she helped that team to gold medals the Whippany, N.J., native put together a 238- at the U.S. Olympic Festival and the ISF World B 196 record and four NCAA Regional appear- Championships. ances. Over the next six years, she went on to cap- U Johns coached the Cavaliers for the 2006 ture three more U.S. Olympic Festival gold med- L and 2007 seasons after bringing Florida to na- als and another ISF World Championship title tional recognition during a fi ve-year stay. along with a Pan Am Games championship and L Over the course of her fi ve years in Gaines- the South Pacifi c Classic gold medal. D ville, Johns posted a .594 winning percentage In 2005, Johns made the transition from Na- and 192-131 record. She skippered UF to the tional Team player to an assistant coach with the O NCAA Tournament four times. Her 2005 squad Red, White and Blue. ended the year 41-23 and hosted its third She assisted the United States to the silver G NCAA Regional of her tenure. medal at the 2008 in Beijing, S Prior to landing the head coaching job in China, after helping the squad to a pair of World Gainesville, Johns got a taste of Southeastern Cup of Softball titles along with championships Conference softball in a fi ve-year stint as an at Canada Cup, the Pan Am Games, Japan Cup KAREN JOHNS assistant coach at the University of Alabama. and ISF World Championships. Assistant Coach • First Season She moved into the position of top assistant This past summer, she served on the U.S. in 2000 and helped guide the Crimson Tide to staff under Miller and helped guide the Ameri- South Carolina ‘89 the Women’s College World Series where they cans to a berth in the 2010 ISF World Cham- came away with a sixth-place fi nish. pionships and the 2011 Pan Am Games with a The accomplishments she enjoyed as a part gold-medal performance at the Pan Am Qualifi er Mississippi State fi rst-year assistant coach of the Crimson Tide coaching staff helped vault in Maracay, Venezuela. Karen Johns might be the newest addition to the her into the head coaching ranks, but it was a Born Nov. 19, 1965, the former Karen Bulldog coaching staff, but she is a veteran of successful tenure as an assistant coach under Sanchelli and her husband, Bobby, have a the softball coaching ranks with over 15 years of Joyce Compton, Miller’s mentor at Missouri, that daughter, Kaci. experience coaching at both the collegiate and sparked her coaching career. international levels. Johns assisted Compton’s 1993 and 1994 Johns brings a wealth of knowledge to the Gamecock squads to a 105-38 record, a pair THE JOHNS FILE Bulldog pitchers and catchers, as she was a of NCAA Regional appearances and Regional two-time NFCA All-America catcher for South Coaching Staff of the Year accolades. FULL NAME: Karen Sanchelli Johns Carolina. In addition to her work with State’s bat- A two-year academic counselor in Colum- tery, Johns also manages the equipment and fa- bia, Johns earned her master’s degree at the HIRE DATE: June 22, 2009 cilities, works with scheduling and assists in the school while serving as a graduate assistant on coordination of MSU’s camps and clinics. the 1990 squad that went 49-14 and a student “We are extremely fortunate to have a assistant for Carolina’s 1989 team that won 46 BIRTHDATE: November 19, 1965 coach the caliber of Karen Johns as a part of our games and advanced to the Women’s College coaching staff. She brings a wealth of knowledge World Series. PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Four-year letterwin- as a collegiate head coach and as an assistant Her successful coaching tenure follows an ner and two-time NFCA All-America catcher at coach with the Olympic Team,” MSU head coach equally as impressive resume behind the plate at South Carolina Jay Miller said. South Carolina. The two-time NFCA First Team All- The move to the Bulldog softball program American led the Gamecocks in batting average, FAMILY: Married to Bobby Johns and has one continues a 14-year collegiate coaching career hits and slugging percentage three-straight years. daughter, Kaci Michelle. that includes head coaching stints at Florida and She still ranks among Carolina’s careers leaders in most recently Virginia. batting average (.350) and doubles (38). COACHING EXPERIENCE: Student Assistant Coach at South Carolina (1989); Graduate Assistant Coach at South Carolina (1990); As- sistant Coach at South Carolina (1993-94); As- sistant Coach at Alabama (1996-2000); Head Coach at Florida (2001-05); Head Coach at Vir- ginia (2006-07); Assistant Coach at Mississippi State (2009-present).

HOBBIES: Watching sports, spending time with my family, and Facebook.

COACHING PHILOSOPHY: I have learned some great lessons as both a player and coach, and I want to pass those great lessons on to the players in our program. I want them to always be themselves, work hard every day to be the best they can be, enjoy what they do and never let their embarrassments become an obstacle in what they want to accomplish.

45 SUPPORT STAFF

B B B B U U U U L L L L L L L L D D D D O O O O G G G G S S S S RICHARD ALISON KELVIN SARAH AKINS BARNES GIBSON GOFF Strength Coach Student Manager Transportation Student Trainer

B B B B U U U U L L L L L L L L D D D D O O O O G G G G S S S S MEGUMI EVERETT GINA LYNDA IKEDA KENNARD McCLOUD MOORE Athletic Trainer Transportation Student Assistant Academic Counselor

B B B B U U U U L L L L L L L L D D D D O O O O G G G G S S S S MICHELLE SCOTT SHAUN BROCK SCRIVENER STRICKLIN TAYLOR TURNIPSEED Administrative Asst. Softball Administrator Game Operations Media Relations

46