HATIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss Athletic Director Richard Giannini
announced today the hiring of Gay McNutt to fill the head softball coach's
position left vacant in June by the resignation of Lu Harris.
McNutt comes to USM after spending six years at Northwestern State
University where she accumulated a record of 161-150. She led the Demons to
three consecutive Southland Conference Championships (1998, 1999, 2000) and
two appearances in the NCAA Regional Tournament (1998 and 2000).
Before taking the head position at Northwestern State, McNutt spent one year
as an assistant coach at Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas. She played
a key role in leading the team to a 28-11 record in its inaugural season.
McNutt also was the assistant strength and conditioning coach for the
University of Houston from 1990 to 1994.
She began her coaching career at Louisiana-Lafayette. While there she earned
her bachelor's degree and was the assistant coach for both the women's
basketball and softball teams from 1985 through 1989.
McNutt played collegiately at Texas A&M University in College Station,
Texas, where she was an All-American catcher for the Aggies from 1982-85.
During her career as an Aggie, the team won one AIAW National Championship
and one NCAA Championship. She was named to the All-Region team all four
years.
"I'm excited about the opportunity to work with a team that has been to the
College World Series for the past two years and I'm looking forward to
building on that success," said McNutt. "I'm excited about working with the
Southern Miss administration and about the way the Hattiesburg community has
embraced softball. It saddens me to leave Northwestern State because I have
had a great relationship with my players, the administration and the
community; however, I'm looking forward to doing great things with some
great people at Southern Miss."
"Coach McNutt comes to us highly recommended," said Giannini. "She has
enjoyed tremendous success throughout her career, and I'm sure she will
continue that success with the Golden Eagles."
Associate Athletic Director Sonya Varnell, who oversaw the selection process
said, "I'm happy this process is over. We had about 20 applicants and Coach
McNutt was our no. 1 candidate. While I know people will compare the two,
she is not Lu Harris. But, like Lu Harris, she is a winner . She has won two
national championships as a student athlete at Texas A&M and she has been a
winner at Northwestern State.
It's only a matter of time before she makes it to and win the WCWS. She is a
proven winner and I am confident she will continue to do so with us. It is
my pleasure to welcome her to the Southern Miss family."
McNutt will take the helm of the winningest team in Southern Miss softball
history. In 1999 Harris brought the team back after a seven year layoff and
made history as she led USM to a 52-9 record and became the first program in
its first year, or first year after a layoff, to make the Women's College
World Series. This past season saw the Lady Eagles post a 63-13 record, make
the WCWS National Semifinals and finish with a No. 4 national ranking.
Harris left the program to become head coach at The University of Georgia in
Athens.