William Carey Softball Brings Back Previous Head Coach

William Carey University announced the hire of Wendy Hogue as head coach of its softball program, a team that Hogue is very familiar with.

Hogue first arrived at William Carey in 1995 and played with the inaugural softball team in 1996. After coaching at Petal High School in 1998 as an assistant coach for slow pitch, she was named Petal’s first head coach for fast pitch softball, where Petal claimed two district titles while also never missing the playoffs.

In 2004, Hogue took the job at William Carey to bring winning culture back to Hattiesburg. The softball team hadn’t had a winning season since 1996, but by the fourth year of Hogue’s first tenure as head coach the Lady Crusaders clinched their first ever forty win season. They also clinched a berth to the NAIA National Tournament as well as the NAIA World Series.

Up until 2014, Hogue and the Lady Crusaders had claimed the program’s first ever conference championship en route to four consecutive conference titles and World Series trips. It was after the 2014 season when Hogue took the job as the Head Softball Coach for the University of Southern Mississippi.

Now back with William Carey, Hogue will take charge of a team that made a post-season surge into the NAIA opening round.

“With a full and grateful heart, I’m excited to return to William Carey University, my alma mater, and my Carey family, as head softball coach,” Hogue announced. “A special thanks to Dr. Burnett and the athletics administration for this incredible opportunity. My prayer is that the decision brings glory to God and growth to the program.”

Author administrator Kellen Walker