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Lu Harris
Softball Feature Writer

 

Lu Harris
Head Coach, University of Southern Miss

Whether it has been as a collegiate coach, a coach in the pro ranks, or as a assistant, Southern Miss Head Coach Lu Harris has won wherever she has been.


When Lu Harris was hired to coach Southern Miss’ first softball team since the program was disbanded in 1992, there couldn’t have been a more perfect fit for a coach with a team. Harris has become known throughout the country as a coach who can take a program and help it reach new heights. In a little over a year, Coach Harris has taken the Southern Miss softball program competing at the NCAA Division I level for the first time since 1992, and made it one of the top 10 collegiate fastpitch programs in the country. She guided the Lady Eagles into the Women’s College World Series after an incredible run through the NCAA South Regional (No. 5) with two wins over No. 12 Oregon State , a win over No. 7 LSU and a victory over No. 9 Oklahoma. At the WCWS, Southern Miss dropped a pair of heart-breaking, 1-0 decisions to Fresno State and DePaul. The Lady Eagles were in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Top 25 for 11 consecutive weeks during the 1999 campaign. Southern Miss finished the regular season ranked in the top 10 nationally in hitting (2nd-.344), pitching (7th-1.19 ERA), scoring (9th-6.70 runs per game) and won-loss percentage (2nd-48-6, .889). USM was also 15th in the nation in team fielding percentage.

Harris’ team started their first year of softball off with a bang as they defeated No. 15 Oklahoma State (9-2) and No. 25 Oregon (5-2). Southern Miss became the first team in the history of the NCAA to reach the Regional Tournament in their first year and the Women’s College World Series. She also produced two Louisville Slugger/NFCA First Team All-Americans in pitcher Courtney Blades, and shortstop Amy Berman. The Hattiesburg, Southern Mississippi area also fell in love with its team this season. In their only home dates of the season, the Lady Eagles attracted 2,336 for their two home dates at the Southern Miss Spring Classic.

No matter where Harris has coached, her programs have always been winners. In her first head coaching job, at Nicholls State, Harris was hired in late August of 1995 and received a team that had just seven players on its roster. After spending two weeks recruiting, Harris took a team loaded with inexperienced players and walk-ons and ended up in the NCAA Regional Finals after defeating Minnesota (2-1) and Nebraska (2-0). Harris’ squad lost in the NCAA Regional Championship to USL, 2-1. In recognizing her incredible accomplishment, Harris was named the NFCA/Speedline Southeast Region Coach of the Year. She was also named the Southland Conference’s Coach of the Year.

The next year, Harris lead a team comprised of mainly freshmen and sophomores to the NCAA Regionals again. Her two-year record at Nicholls was 94-42. After the 1997 season was completed, Harris was asked to coach the Orlando Wahoos of the Women’s Pro Fastpitch League. In the league’s first year, Harris guided the Wahoos to a record of 60-13 and won the regular season and league championship. She was named WPF’s Coach of the Year and was featured on ESPN in the league’s wrap-up awards show.

Prior to becoming a head coach, Harris spent five years as an assistant coach as well as recruiting coordinator for Western Illinois head coach and former NFCA President Kathy Veroni at Western Illinois. During her five years at WIU, the Westerwinds were 156-98. The program captured the 1992 Gateway Conference Tournament Championship, then its first season in the Mid-Continent Conference. in 1993, they won both the league’s regular season and tournament titles. WIU also won the Mid Continent Conference West Division championship in 1996 with a 16-0 record. Harris was considered one of the most proficient shortstops at Western Illinois, playing three seasons for the Westerwinds after transferring form Mesa Junior College. The LaJolla, California native graduated from WIU in 1989. Harris has also coached 12-under and 14-under travelball teams for the McDonough County (IL) C.A.T.S. which qualified for national tournaments.

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