Ricketts promoted to softball associate head coach
Samantha Ricketts
After revamping Mississippi State softball into one of the top slugging programs in the Southeastern Conference, Samantha Ricketts has been elevated to associate head coach as announced by head coach Vann Stuedeman last Monday [July 30].
"I am very thankful for this opportunity and to John Cohen for his continued support of Mississippi State softball," Ricketts said. "I believe in this program and in what Vann Stuedeman is doing to create amazing opportunities for our student athletes to be successful both on and off the field. I cannot wait to get back on the field and to be a part of the continued growth of our softball program."
Following her fourth season in Starkville, Ricketts has helped the Bulldogs to over 130 wins during her tenure, helping the Bulldogs to an NCAA Regional in three of her four seasons on the coaching staff. During the 2018 campaign, she helped the Bulldogs to their 14th overall NCAA Regional appearance as MSU captured a 38-23 overall record. State closed the 2018 season ranked No. 23 in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll.
"Over the last four years, Ricketts has been a great example of the blue-collar work ethic that we pride ourselves on," said Stuedeman. "She is consistently rowing her oar day in and day out and bought into her role on our staff and in our softball family. The qualities and characteristics that Ricketts displays are easy to see when you are around her for any period of time. She had opportunities and was pursued by other universities, but she is invested and committed to our program. Her heart is in StarkVegas, and her love and loyalty to Mississippi State softball does not go unnoticed. She has earned this promotion. We all believe the best is yet to come for Bulldog softball."
Working specifically with the hitters, Ricketts made an immediate impact during her first season in charge of the MSU offense as the team set single-season records in five categories over the 2015 campaign alone. Rickets was responsible for the rise of Bulldog star Caroline Seitz, who finished her career ranked in the top five in five MSU offensive career categories. Seitz secured First Team All-SEC honors in 2017 to become the first Bulldog to win the laurel since 2010.
Last season, Ricketts helped MSU to one of its best years of competition in over a decade. The Bulldogs earned their first SEC Tournament victory since 2005 with a 2-0 triumph over No. 13 Texas A&M. MSU went on to earn its sixth NCAA Tournament bid over the last seven seasons and competed in the Tucson Regional finale against host Arizona, marking the first time since 2005 that MSU has played in an NCAA Regional championship contest.
The 2018 season was highlighted by freshman Mia Davidson's impressive performance at the plate. Under Ricketts tutelage, Davidson set a MSU freshman and single-season records with 19 home runs. Davidson closed the season with a .370 batting average and .762 slugging percentage en route to becoming the 2018 SEC Freshman of the Year and earning First Team All-SEC honors. As a program MSU slugged 55 home runs to set a new single-season record for the program.
Along with Seitz and Davidson's All-SEC accolades, Ricketts boasts eight NFCA All-Region selections during her tenure. She has coached the Bulldogs to three 35-plus win seasons and helped return MSU to the national spotlight as the Bulldogs enjoyed over nine consecutive weeks ranked in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll last season.
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