STARKVILLE — Samantha Ricketts will be the next head softball coach at Mississippi State.
The hiring was announced in a news release Monday morning.
Ricketts has spent the past four seasons as an assistant at MSU in varying roles. Most recently, she was promoted to associate head coach July 30, 2018.
“It became clear during our search that Samantha Ricketts was the right fit to lead Mississippi State softball,” MSU Athletic Director John Cohen said in a news release. “Samantha’s vision, national recruiting experience and her ability to teach the game were the biggest factors in our decision.”
Since her arrival, Ricketts’ impact in Starkville has been most felt offensively. In her first season first season at MSU in 2015 the Bulldogs set single-season records in home runs, batting average, slugging percentage, RBIs, and on-base percentage.
Following a four year playing career at Oklahoma, Ricketts served as a graduate assistant for the Sooners in 2010 and 2011. She then worked as an assistant coach at Wichita State from 2012-2014.
“I am honored and thrilled for the opportunity to lead Mississippi State softball,” Ricketts said in a news release. “I am thankful to John Cohen and (President) Dr. Mark Keenum for believing in me. I take so much pride in this program, and we will work extremely hard and efficiently in elevating Mississippi State softball to our ultimate goals.”
Ricketts’ introductory press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday in the Golding Family Media Center.
Ben Portnoy reports on Mississippi State sports for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter at @bportnoy15.
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