Courtesy of Southern Mississippi Athletics
HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Southern Miss Director of Athletics Bill McGillis officially announced the hiring of Wendy Hogue as the school’s head coach for its softball program Wednesday afternoon. Hogue joins the Golden Eagles after spending 10 years as the head softball coach of NAIA national power William Carey.
“We have hired a first-class person and terrific head coach in Wendy Hogue,” said McGillis. “She is a winner. Wendy’s leadership qualities, values, as well as her commitment to a positive student-athlete experience and her softball expertise are qualities that make her a great match for Southern Miss. She has a proven track record of success and did an extraordinary job of building William Carey into a national power, including leading them to their pinnacle last season with a national runner-up finish at the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series.
“Throughout her career, Wendy has put together teams that have been successful both on the field and in the classroom. The community rallied around her and her teams at William Carey which had a great deal to do with their success. We are looking forward to her bringing that enthusiasm and excitement with her to Southern Miss. We know that the community will show the same type of support that they have shown everywhere she has been.”
During her time at WCU, Hogue built the Lady Crusaders into a national power.
Under Hogue’s direction, the Lady Crusaders made six NAIA National Tournament appearances (2008-12, 2014), including four Elite 8 (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014) and two Final Four appearances. Carey captured a Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament title (2012), two Southern States Athletic Conference West Division Regular Season titles (2011, 2012), two NAIA Unaffiliated Conference championships (2009, 2010), two Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament titles (2009, 2010), a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Regular Season championship (2009) and a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament runner-up finish (2008).
In addition, Hogue coached thirteen All Americans. The Lady Crusaders were nationally ranked from March 2008 until June 2014 – 64 consecutive polls – under Hogue.
In 2014, William Carey finished with a record of 52-12, was the runner-up in the 2014 NAIA Softball World Series and was ranked second in the final NAIA Coaches’ Top 25 Poll.
Hogue was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Coach of the Year in 2009, Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Coach of the Year in 2011, and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) East Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2009, 2011, and 2012. She has served the NAIA as a Conference Chair, Conference Rater and National Rater. Hogue has been a member of the NFCA since 2004 and has served on various national committees. In 2013-14, Hogue served as the NAIA Representative on the NFCA Board of Directors.
Under Hogue’s guidance the Lady Crusaders were a Top 10 Scholar Team for her final seven years at William Carey. The 2012 team and the 2014 team were the top academic performing softball school in the NAIA. The 2014 squad ended the year with a 3.71 team GPA.
Hogue’s coaching career began as an assistant coach for slow-pitch softball in 1998 at Petal High School. In 2000, Hogue became the first head coach for fast pitch softball at Petal. In her five years with the Lady Panthers, her teams reached the playoffs each year and won a Mississippi High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) District championship (2004) and finished as the MSHSAA South State runner-up (2004) once.
“It has been a very emotional past few days,” said Hogue on joining the Golden Eagle program. “That emotion has turned to excitement. I am fired up and ready to get started.
“When I think about Hattiesburg and Southern Miss softball, I think back to 1999. The very first Southern Miss softball game I ever went to – Courtney Blades, Kenya Peters, Chrystal Stevens. There was an excitement that was around not just softball, but Southern Miss softball. I am excited to finally be a part of that.”
Hogue first arrived at William Carey in 1995 and played on the inaugural team under current Baylor head coach Glenn Moore. While at Carey, Hogue excelled on the field and in the classroom and was the recipient of numerous awards for both. Hogue graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1998 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Education. In 2008 she earned her Master’s Degree in Education as well.
Wendy is married to Eric Hogue and they have two children, Kinley Grace and Keaton.
