College Softball News

James Landreneau named new Cowgirl softball head coach

James Landreneau

LAKE CHARLES – James Landreneau, a key component on the McNeese Cowgirls’ softball coaching staff the past four years, has been named the program’s new head coach, Director of Athletics Bruce Hemphill announced on Tuesday.

Landreneau’s hiring is subject to approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, which includes McNeese State University. He replaces Joanna Hardin who accepted the head coaching job at the University of Virginia last Friday.

“First, I want to thank President Williams and Mr. Hemphill for trusting in me and giving me this opportunity,” said Landreneau who has been the Cowgirls’ hitting coach and recruiting coordinator since 2013. “I also want to thank Coach (Mike) Smith and Coach (Joanna) Hardin for having faith in me.

“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the next leader of this great program. We have an incredible group of talented and high character young ladies returning with a promising athletic freshman class coming in.”

In his four years at McNeese, the Cowgirls have compiled a 157-66 overall record and an 83-20 mark in Southland Conference play and has been a part of three conference championships (2013, 2014, 2016) while coaching three league player of the year recipients.

“James has been an integral component of the Cowgirls’ success as the hitting coach, defensive coach, and recruiting coordinator,” said Hemphill. “He has the leadership and communication skills, knowledge and experience that have been developed in working with two McNeese softball coaches who have gone on to major Division I programs. He understands McNeese and what it takes to be highly successful here. And because of that, we did not have to look any further to find our new head coach.”

This past year, Landreneau coached an offense that was led by two-time NFCA All-America catcher and Southland Conference Player and Hitter of the Year Erika Piancastelli as the Cowgirls won the league regular season and tournament championships while playing in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regionals where they beat former national champion Arizona State in the opening round.

The Cowgirls, who won a school record 43 games, led the league in hitting (.305), slugging (.460), on-base percentage (.409), runs scored (350), hits (466), runs batted in (292), doubles (88), total bases (702) and hit by pitches (81).

In addition to the record number of victories, the Cowgirls also set school records in runs scored, RBI, batters hit, walks (201) and on-base percentage.

In 2015, Landreneau’s offense broke or tied four single season records while Piancastelli became the first player in Southland Conference history to be voted as the league’s Player, Hitter and Freshman of the Year in the same season.

Former head coach Mike Smith brought the Mamou native on board in 2013 and the results were immediate.

McNeese posted a .968 fielding percentage that season to rank 36th in the nation. The Cowgirls finished the season ranked fourth in the league with 61 doubles that year as they finished with a 38-15 overall record and a conference championship mark of 19-5.

In 2014, the Cowgirls repeated as conference champions with a 20-6 league record and 40-17 mark overall.

McNeese has led the league in stolen bases the last three years and has ranked in the top 10 in the nation the last two seasons. In 2014, the Cowgirls topped the conference and rankeds 19th in the nation with 86 doubles and led the league with a .435 slugging percentage while setting single-season school records in runs scored and on-base percentage while tying records in triples and hit-by-pitches.

Landreneau coached and developed Alanna DiVittorio who broke a combined nine McNeese and Southland Conference records her senior season and was named the league’s player and hitter of the year for 2014.

DiVittorio also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America honors that season to become just the second softball player in school history to earn the prestigious award.

“James will not only continue the winning tradition and academic success of our softball program,” said Hemphill, “but will continue our progression in becoming a major force in the national spotlight.”

McNeese will hold an introductory press conference next week at a date and time yet to be

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