Marshall University Athletics
Softball
Smith Lyon, Megan
Megan Smith Lyon
- Title:
- Softball Head Coach
- Email:
- smithmeg@marshall.edu
- Phone:
- 4370
Megan Smith Lyon completed her fifth season of leading the Marshall softball team in 2023, after being hired as the program’s fourth head coach on July 25, 2018. Coach Smith Lyon became the fastest to reach 150 wins in program history, needing just 215 games to get there, as she earned her 150th win at Marshall with a dramatic 5-3 win on the road over Coastal Carolina on April 15, 2023. In 2022, Smith Lyon became the quickest to 100 wins with the Herd, accomplishing the feat in her 151st game with an 11-4 win over Charlotte on April 1.
Coach Smith Lyon’s record at Marshall is 160-70, a .670 winning percentage, and 553-335 overall (17 years). She picked up her 500th overall coaching victory on April 15, 2022 with a 3-2 win over FIU at Dot Hicks Field.
Coach Smith Lyon has had players honored as all-conference 18 times, with five players being named to the 2023 Sun Belt Conference First Team (Bickel, Chelemen, Coleman, Nester, Owen). Sydney Bickel was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2023. The Herd also had three players named to the SBC All-Tournament team and four NFCA All-Region members. In the C-USA era from 2019-22, the Herd had player/pitchers of the week 14 times, all-tournament five times and all-region eight times. Smith Lyon also coached Marshall's first ever Senior CLASS Award winner in any sport as Aly Harrell brought home the honor in 2022. Her players have starred in the classroom as well with players named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (GPA 3.00+) 58 times, nine receiving the Academic Medal (GPA 3.75+), 18 as NFCA All-America Scholar athletes (GPA 3.50+) and two named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team as of 2022.
The 2023 season was filled with historic achievements for the Thundering Herd, including a program-record 45 wins, a 23-game winning streak, and a record five First-Team All Conference award recipients. Under Coach Smith Lyon, the Herd adapted to a team filled with speed, with a total of 106 stolen bases, 69 more than the previous season. Smith Lyon successfully guided Marshall into the Sun Belt Conference era, with the team being ranked top of the league in batting average (.333), earned run average (1.62), on-base percentage (.421), slugging percentage, (.512), and scoring (6.42 runs per game). The Herd sported the league's batting and pitching triple-crown winners with Autumn Owen and Sydney Nester. Owen - who broke the single-season RBI record with a league-leading 71 runs driven in - also led the conference with 19 home runs and a .444 batting average. Nester led the SBC with 234 strikeouts, 27 wins, and a 1.07 ERA. The 2023 Herd took "Dot Magic" to the next level, with a record 21 home wins (two over ACC schools), and the program's first home ranked win over #24 Virginia Tech. It was the first ranked win in 15 years for Marshall softball.
The 2023 season provided an abundance of team and individual records, including:
Getting back to a full season in 2022 after shortened 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Herd was back over 30 wins again with 35, and right back to setting records. Marshall ranked in the top 20 in the nation in seven different categories (also led the league in the same) ranking eighth in doubles per game (1.68), eighth in on base percentage (.412), 12th in batting average (.321), 13th in slugging percentage (.554), 14th in doubles (89), 16th in runs per game (6.13) and 19th in home runs per game (1.42). The Herd broke or tied 19 total records. As a team, the Herd set the all-time single-season program highs for slugging percentage, on base percentage, doubles, and strikeouts per seven innings by the pitching staff (7.81). Single-game marks that fell this season were the most doubles in a game with seven vs. Middle Tennessee (3/27), hits in a single inning with 10 against Purdue Fort Wayne (3/3), hit-by-pitches with five vs. Howard (2/26) and tied the record for most hits in a game with 19 against Charlotte (4/2). Saige Pye tied the season record for home runs with 20 while Aly Harrell set the mark for on base percentage (.606) and Sydney Nester set the record for strikeouts per seven innings (9.03). Harrell was second in the NCAA in on base percentage in 2022 at .606.
The Herd rolled out the second-longest home winning streak at 21-straight that began in 2021, and also won 11-straight games (Feb. 25-March 13) good for the third-longest. Two other records for accolades were set this season as Nester was named C-USA Pitcher of the Week six times, the previous Herd record was three. Also, four players were named First Team All-Region for the first time in team history with Nester, Harrell, Pye and Stevenson carrying home the honors. Stevenson was also named a Third Team All-American, the fourth All-American in program history.
Smith Lyon carried her team through a difficult year in 2021 dealing with restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, and still finished with a winning record of 20-13. The Herd still ranked among the nation’s best in doubles per game (seventh), home runs per game (12th), slugging percentage (16th), on base percentage (23rd) and scoring (27th).
Marshall was off to a record-breaking start offensively in 2020 before the year came to an abrupt end after 25 games, due to the cancelation of the season from the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. The Herd was on pace to eclipse records that were set just the season before. As a team Marshall was batting .357, slugging .643, an on base percentage of .440, and was leading the nation in home runs per game with 1.92 (48 total). The team was on pace to hit the century mark in homers by the end of the regular season. The offensive onslaught started from the beginning of the year and picked up pace during the Pirate Classic (Feb. 28-March 1) as Marshall blasted 15 home runs in five games. The Herd tied its single-game record of five home runs twice. The first time came against the Delaware State Hornets (Feb. 28) and then at No. 11 Kentucky (March 11). Marshall was seventh in the nation in scoring with 7.56 runs per game, with the old team record of 5.40 set in 2015. Other per game averages that displayed the Herd’s offensive prowess included 9.84 hits (old record 9.28 in 2015), 1.64 doubles (1.40 set in 2008), 6.96 RBI (4.88 set in 2019), 17.72 total bases (12.31 set in 2017), and 3.48 walks per contest (3.44 set in 2019). Marshall had eight wins by the mercy rule, tied for third-most in a season (2006) in team history.
Her first season with the Herd was a record-breaking one along with leading the team to the Conference USA Championship game for the first time since 2014 as the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Following the 3-1 championship game loss to No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech, Marshall received an invite to the National Invitational Softball Championship and played in the Lynchburg, Va., Regional. Again Marshall fought its way into the regional championship game before falling to the host Liberty Flames. The Herd ended the season tying the record for most wins in a season with 42.
Coach Smith led a big turnaround for the Herd with a 17-win improvement (tied for second-best in program history) at 42-22.
Coach Smith won her debut game for the Green and White with a 5-2 victory over UC-Riverside (Feb. 8) in San Diego, Calif. She earned her 400th career coaching victory with a 10-1 win against Presbyterian (Feb. 16). The Herd finished the early part of the season with a 17-6 record before diving into Conference USA action. Marshall was predicted to finish eighth in the preseason coaches’ poll but battled through to a 17-7 record with the series win in 7-of-8 conference matchups. The Herd played well at home with a 13-6 record including two walk-off victories at the Dot in conference action against WKU and Louisiana Tech.
During the season, the team as well as individual players were ranked nationally in many statistical categories. By the end of the season Marshall was ranked in the top 100 in home runs (19th), shutouts (tied for 21st), slugging percentage (27th), on base percentage (40th), runs per game (45th), winning percentage (51st) and fielding percentage (97th). Individually Aly Harrell led the country in total walks (68) and combined free passes with 85 (68 walks and 17 hit-by-pitches). Sierra Huerta led the nation in hit-by-pitches with 30 which was also good for 12th most all-time in NCAA history. Freshman Mya Stevenson led all freshman across Division I with 20 homers. Marshall players in total ranked in the top 50 in the country 17 times by the end of the 2019 season.
Smith, who sported a career record of 393-265 prior to coming to Marshall, led the Jayhawks to six consecutive 30-win seasons and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015 during her nine seasons at the helm. The 2015 campaign yielded the first 40-win season for the program in 23 years, the best start in school history for the second time in her tenure (12-0) and seven consecutive weeks in the top 25. Her 2013 team recorded the program's highest winning percentage (.680) in 21 years, broke the Big 12 record for batting average (.345), the highest mark in the NCAA that season. In 2012, Kansas had a 20-game win streak and, the year before, boasted an 11.5 game won-loss record improvement, the 16th-best turnaround in NCAA history. The 26-3 mark to open the 2011 season was also the best start in the program's history.
"I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of the Marshall family," said Smith. "There is such a strong history and tradition of success within the softball program and I am humbled to now be a part of that. I want to thank Mike Hamrick for this incredible opportunity for me and my son Cooper. I am eager to get to know the players and to get started this fall!"
At Kansas, she coached one All-American, one academic All-American, 20 All-Big 12 selections, 20 NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Region selections, 50 All-Big 12 Academic Team honorees, three Big 12 Scholar Athletes of the Year and three student-athletes taken in the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) Draft. The program also set single-season fielding percentage (2014, .979-second-highest nationally) and home run records during her time as head coach (60, 2011).
Prior to her time in Lawrence, Smith was an assistant for LSU for three seasons, where she helped the Tigers in winning the 2007 SEC Tournament and the Stanford Regional in the NCAA Tournament en route to 55 wins. LSU finished the regular season ranked third in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The following season, the Tigers picked up 44 wins on their way to a #9 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. During her tenure, she mentored two All-Americans and five NFCA All-South Region honorees.
Smith started the softball program at Western Carolina and posted a 41-20 record in WCU's inaugural season, earning 2006 Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors, while leading the Catamounts to the league's regular season title. That season, five student-athletes garnered first-team all-league acclaim, with another on the second team and two more were tabbed on the NFCA Southeast All-Region second team. She also coached the conference's 2006 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. WCU broke the league's single-season home run record (81) that year, part of an explosive offensive season for the program (third in the nation in home runs per game, 14th in slugging percentage, 19th in scoring).
She also had assistant coaching stops at her alma mater North Carolina (2004), where she helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament, and at Charlotte in 2003.
Her first head coaching position came at Young Harris College in Georgia, where she put up a 79-41 record over two seasons.
"We are very much looking forward to Megan leading our softball program," said Marshall Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick. "She is a proven winner and has a reputation for helping mold top-quality student-athletes. Our program is eager for her arrival in Huntington."
Smith, who is a former NCAA Division I Softball Committee member, graduated from North Carolina in May 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Recreation Studies. She received her Master of Science in Human Performance and Sport Studies from Tennessee in August of 2000. Smith is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership Studies at Marshall.
A Walkertown, N.C. native, Smith and the late Paul Buske have one son, Cooper.
Smith and assistant coach Corey Lyon, married on May 22, 2020.
What They're Saying about Megan Smith
Yvette Girouard, Former LSU Softball Head Coach and NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee
"Megan Smith will be a tireless worker for the Thundering Herd. She is the epitome of trying to do things the right way on and off the field for her student-athletes. A great recruiter who, no doubt, will bring talented softball players to Marshall, Megan is a great hire for the University."
Donna J. Papa, North Carolina Softball Head Coach and NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee
"Megan Smith is an outstanding hire to continue the tradition of Marshall University Softball. She will bring integrity and a strong work ethic to the program. Megan prides herself on preparation and organization as well as creating a competitive environment. She will look to create a family atmosphere and build and sustain a culture of pride and success that has been a part of Thundering Herd Softball. I have had the opportunity to coach and follow her throughout her coaching career thus far. I couldn't be happier for her and am excited to watch her take the Marshall Softball program forward."
Head Coach Megan Smith Coaching Record
2001 - Young Harris - NJCAA Regional Runner-Up - 34-25
2002 - Young Harris - NJCAA Regional Runner-Up - 45-16
2005 - Western Carolina - Start of the program (no games played)
2006 - Western Carolina - Southern Conference Regular Season Champions - 41-20
2010 - Kansas - 10th Big 12 - 21-35
2011 - Kansas - 10th Big 12 - 31-22
2012 - Kansas - 9th Big 12 - 31-20
2013 - Kansas - 4th Big 12 - 34-16
2014 - Kansas - 5th Big 12 & NCAA Regionals - 34-23
2015 - Kansas - 5th Big 12 & NCAA Regionals - 40-15
2016 - Kansas - 4th Big 12 - 31-20
2017 - Kansas - 7th Big 12 - 24-28
2018 - Kansas - 7th Big 12 - 27-25
2019 - Marshall - 4th C-USA, C-USA Championship Runner-Up, NISC Lynchburg Regional Runner-Up - 42-22
2020 - Marshall - 18-7 (Remainder of season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic, did not play any C-USA games)
2021 - Marshall - 7th C-USA - 20-13 (Abbreviated season due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 - Marshall - 4th C-USA - 35-18
2023 - Marshall - 2nd SBC - Sun Belt Conference East Division Champions, SBC Championship Runner-Up - 45-10
Totals
Young Harris (2 yrs) - 79-41 (.658)
Western Carolina (1 yr) - 41-20 (.672)
Kansas - (9 yrs) - 273-204 (.572)
Marshall (5 yrs) - 160-70 (.670)
16 years - 553-335 (.623)
Coach Smith Lyon’s record at Marshall is 160-70, a .670 winning percentage, and 553-335 overall (17 years). She picked up her 500th overall coaching victory on April 15, 2022 with a 3-2 win over FIU at Dot Hicks Field.
Coach Smith Lyon has had players honored as all-conference 18 times, with five players being named to the 2023 Sun Belt Conference First Team (Bickel, Chelemen, Coleman, Nester, Owen). Sydney Bickel was also named the league's Newcomer of the Year in 2023. The Herd also had three players named to the SBC All-Tournament team and four NFCA All-Region members. In the C-USA era from 2019-22, the Herd had player/pitchers of the week 14 times, all-tournament five times and all-region eight times. Smith Lyon also coached Marshall's first ever Senior CLASS Award winner in any sport as Aly Harrell brought home the honor in 2022. Her players have starred in the classroom as well with players named to the C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll (GPA 3.00+) 58 times, nine receiving the Academic Medal (GPA 3.75+), 18 as NFCA All-America Scholar athletes (GPA 3.50+) and two named to the Conference USA All-Academic Team as of 2022.
The 2023 season was filled with historic achievements for the Thundering Herd, including a program-record 45 wins, a 23-game winning streak, and a record five First-Team All Conference award recipients. Under Coach Smith Lyon, the Herd adapted to a team filled with speed, with a total of 106 stolen bases, 69 more than the previous season. Smith Lyon successfully guided Marshall into the Sun Belt Conference era, with the team being ranked top of the league in batting average (.333), earned run average (1.62), on-base percentage (.421), slugging percentage, (.512), and scoring (6.42 runs per game). The Herd sported the league's batting and pitching triple-crown winners with Autumn Owen and Sydney Nester. Owen - who broke the single-season RBI record with a league-leading 71 runs driven in - also led the conference with 19 home runs and a .444 batting average. Nester led the SBC with 234 strikeouts, 27 wins, and a 1.07 ERA. The 2023 Herd took "Dot Magic" to the next level, with a record 21 home wins (two over ACC schools), and the program's first home ranked win over #24 Virginia Tech. It was the first ranked win in 15 years for Marshall softball.
The 2023 season provided an abundance of team and individual records, including:
- Most wins in program history (45)
- Most regular season wins in program history (43)
- Longest winning streak (23)
- Fastest team to reach 20 wins (23 games), 25 wins (28 games), 30 wins (33 games), 35 wins (40 games)
- First win over a ranked team in 15 years (2-1 win over #24 Virginia Tech - Apr. 25, 2023)
- Most home wins in team history (21).
- Five All-Conference First Team award winners
- Autumn Owen - 71 RBI - Most in Program History
Getting back to a full season in 2022 after shortened 2020 and 2021 seasons, the Herd was back over 30 wins again with 35, and right back to setting records. Marshall ranked in the top 20 in the nation in seven different categories (also led the league in the same) ranking eighth in doubles per game (1.68), eighth in on base percentage (.412), 12th in batting average (.321), 13th in slugging percentage (.554), 14th in doubles (89), 16th in runs per game (6.13) and 19th in home runs per game (1.42). The Herd broke or tied 19 total records. As a team, the Herd set the all-time single-season program highs for slugging percentage, on base percentage, doubles, and strikeouts per seven innings by the pitching staff (7.81). Single-game marks that fell this season were the most doubles in a game with seven vs. Middle Tennessee (3/27), hits in a single inning with 10 against Purdue Fort Wayne (3/3), hit-by-pitches with five vs. Howard (2/26) and tied the record for most hits in a game with 19 against Charlotte (4/2). Saige Pye tied the season record for home runs with 20 while Aly Harrell set the mark for on base percentage (.606) and Sydney Nester set the record for strikeouts per seven innings (9.03). Harrell was second in the NCAA in on base percentage in 2022 at .606.
The Herd rolled out the second-longest home winning streak at 21-straight that began in 2021, and also won 11-straight games (Feb. 25-March 13) good for the third-longest. Two other records for accolades were set this season as Nester was named C-USA Pitcher of the Week six times, the previous Herd record was three. Also, four players were named First Team All-Region for the first time in team history with Nester, Harrell, Pye and Stevenson carrying home the honors. Stevenson was also named a Third Team All-American, the fourth All-American in program history.
Smith Lyon carried her team through a difficult year in 2021 dealing with restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, and still finished with a winning record of 20-13. The Herd still ranked among the nation’s best in doubles per game (seventh), home runs per game (12th), slugging percentage (16th), on base percentage (23rd) and scoring (27th).
Marshall was off to a record-breaking start offensively in 2020 before the year came to an abrupt end after 25 games, due to the cancelation of the season from the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. The Herd was on pace to eclipse records that were set just the season before. As a team Marshall was batting .357, slugging .643, an on base percentage of .440, and was leading the nation in home runs per game with 1.92 (48 total). The team was on pace to hit the century mark in homers by the end of the regular season. The offensive onslaught started from the beginning of the year and picked up pace during the Pirate Classic (Feb. 28-March 1) as Marshall blasted 15 home runs in five games. The Herd tied its single-game record of five home runs twice. The first time came against the Delaware State Hornets (Feb. 28) and then at No. 11 Kentucky (March 11). Marshall was seventh in the nation in scoring with 7.56 runs per game, with the old team record of 5.40 set in 2015. Other per game averages that displayed the Herd’s offensive prowess included 9.84 hits (old record 9.28 in 2015), 1.64 doubles (1.40 set in 2008), 6.96 RBI (4.88 set in 2019), 17.72 total bases (12.31 set in 2017), and 3.48 walks per contest (3.44 set in 2019). Marshall had eight wins by the mercy rule, tied for third-most in a season (2006) in team history.
Her first season with the Herd was a record-breaking one along with leading the team to the Conference USA Championship game for the first time since 2014 as the No. 4 seed in the tournament. Following the 3-1 championship game loss to No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech, Marshall received an invite to the National Invitational Softball Championship and played in the Lynchburg, Va., Regional. Again Marshall fought its way into the regional championship game before falling to the host Liberty Flames. The Herd ended the season tying the record for most wins in a season with 42.
Coach Smith led a big turnaround for the Herd with a 17-win improvement (tied for second-best in program history) at 42-22.
Coach Smith won her debut game for the Green and White with a 5-2 victory over UC-Riverside (Feb. 8) in San Diego, Calif. She earned her 400th career coaching victory with a 10-1 win against Presbyterian (Feb. 16). The Herd finished the early part of the season with a 17-6 record before diving into Conference USA action. Marshall was predicted to finish eighth in the preseason coaches’ poll but battled through to a 17-7 record with the series win in 7-of-8 conference matchups. The Herd played well at home with a 13-6 record including two walk-off victories at the Dot in conference action against WKU and Louisiana Tech.
During the season, the team as well as individual players were ranked nationally in many statistical categories. By the end of the season Marshall was ranked in the top 100 in home runs (19th), shutouts (tied for 21st), slugging percentage (27th), on base percentage (40th), runs per game (45th), winning percentage (51st) and fielding percentage (97th). Individually Aly Harrell led the country in total walks (68) and combined free passes with 85 (68 walks and 17 hit-by-pitches). Sierra Huerta led the nation in hit-by-pitches with 30 which was also good for 12th most all-time in NCAA history. Freshman Mya Stevenson led all freshman across Division I with 20 homers. Marshall players in total ranked in the top 50 in the country 17 times by the end of the 2019 season.
Smith, who sported a career record of 393-265 prior to coming to Marshall, led the Jayhawks to six consecutive 30-win seasons and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2015 during her nine seasons at the helm. The 2015 campaign yielded the first 40-win season for the program in 23 years, the best start in school history for the second time in her tenure (12-0) and seven consecutive weeks in the top 25. Her 2013 team recorded the program's highest winning percentage (.680) in 21 years, broke the Big 12 record for batting average (.345), the highest mark in the NCAA that season. In 2012, Kansas had a 20-game win streak and, the year before, boasted an 11.5 game won-loss record improvement, the 16th-best turnaround in NCAA history. The 26-3 mark to open the 2011 season was also the best start in the program's history.
"I am extremely honored and excited to be a part of the Marshall family," said Smith. "There is such a strong history and tradition of success within the softball program and I am humbled to now be a part of that. I want to thank Mike Hamrick for this incredible opportunity for me and my son Cooper. I am eager to get to know the players and to get started this fall!"
At Kansas, she coached one All-American, one academic All-American, 20 All-Big 12 selections, 20 NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) All-Region selections, 50 All-Big 12 Academic Team honorees, three Big 12 Scholar Athletes of the Year and three student-athletes taken in the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) Draft. The program also set single-season fielding percentage (2014, .979-second-highest nationally) and home run records during her time as head coach (60, 2011).
Prior to her time in Lawrence, Smith was an assistant for LSU for three seasons, where she helped the Tigers in winning the 2007 SEC Tournament and the Stanford Regional in the NCAA Tournament en route to 55 wins. LSU finished the regular season ranked third in the ESPN/USA Today poll. The following season, the Tigers picked up 44 wins on their way to a #9 national seed in the NCAA Tournament. During her tenure, she mentored two All-Americans and five NFCA All-South Region honorees.
Smith started the softball program at Western Carolina and posted a 41-20 record in WCU's inaugural season, earning 2006 Southern Conference Coach of the Year honors, while leading the Catamounts to the league's regular season title. That season, five student-athletes garnered first-team all-league acclaim, with another on the second team and two more were tabbed on the NFCA Southeast All-Region second team. She also coached the conference's 2006 Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. WCU broke the league's single-season home run record (81) that year, part of an explosive offensive season for the program (third in the nation in home runs per game, 14th in slugging percentage, 19th in scoring).
She also had assistant coaching stops at her alma mater North Carolina (2004), where she helped the Tar Heels reach the NCAA Tournament, and at Charlotte in 2003.
Her first head coaching position came at Young Harris College in Georgia, where she put up a 79-41 record over two seasons.
"We are very much looking forward to Megan leading our softball program," said Marshall Director of Athletics Mike Hamrick. "She is a proven winner and has a reputation for helping mold top-quality student-athletes. Our program is eager for her arrival in Huntington."
Smith, who is a former NCAA Division I Softball Committee member, graduated from North Carolina in May 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education and Recreation Studies. She received her Master of Science in Human Performance and Sport Studies from Tennessee in August of 2000. Smith is currently working on her Doctorate in Leadership Studies at Marshall.
A Walkertown, N.C. native, Smith and the late Paul Buske have one son, Cooper.
Smith and assistant coach Corey Lyon, married on May 22, 2020.
What They're Saying about Megan Smith
Yvette Girouard, Former LSU Softball Head Coach and NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee
"Megan Smith will be a tireless worker for the Thundering Herd. She is the epitome of trying to do things the right way on and off the field for her student-athletes. A great recruiter who, no doubt, will bring talented softball players to Marshall, Megan is a great hire for the University."
Donna J. Papa, North Carolina Softball Head Coach and NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee
"Megan Smith is an outstanding hire to continue the tradition of Marshall University Softball. She will bring integrity and a strong work ethic to the program. Megan prides herself on preparation and organization as well as creating a competitive environment. She will look to create a family atmosphere and build and sustain a culture of pride and success that has been a part of Thundering Herd Softball. I have had the opportunity to coach and follow her throughout her coaching career thus far. I couldn't be happier for her and am excited to watch her take the Marshall Softball program forward."
Head Coach Megan Smith Coaching Record
2001 - Young Harris - NJCAA Regional Runner-Up - 34-25
2002 - Young Harris - NJCAA Regional Runner-Up - 45-16
2005 - Western Carolina - Start of the program (no games played)
2006 - Western Carolina - Southern Conference Regular Season Champions - 41-20
2010 - Kansas - 10th Big 12 - 21-35
2011 - Kansas - 10th Big 12 - 31-22
2012 - Kansas - 9th Big 12 - 31-20
2013 - Kansas - 4th Big 12 - 34-16
2014 - Kansas - 5th Big 12 & NCAA Regionals - 34-23
2015 - Kansas - 5th Big 12 & NCAA Regionals - 40-15
2016 - Kansas - 4th Big 12 - 31-20
2017 - Kansas - 7th Big 12 - 24-28
2018 - Kansas - 7th Big 12 - 27-25
2019 - Marshall - 4th C-USA, C-USA Championship Runner-Up, NISC Lynchburg Regional Runner-Up - 42-22
2020 - Marshall - 18-7 (Remainder of season canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic, did not play any C-USA games)
2021 - Marshall - 7th C-USA - 20-13 (Abbreviated season due to COVID-19 pandemic)
2022 - Marshall - 4th C-USA - 35-18
2023 - Marshall - 2nd SBC - Sun Belt Conference East Division Champions, SBC Championship Runner-Up - 45-10
Totals
Young Harris (2 yrs) - 79-41 (.658)
Western Carolina (1 yr) - 41-20 (.672)
Kansas - (9 yrs) - 273-204 (.572)
Marshall (5 yrs) - 160-70 (.670)
16 years - 553-335 (.623)
Marshall Softball Class of 2025 Graduates
Friday, May 02
Marshall Softball: Kaleea Washington & Brooklyn Ulrich (Post-Radford)
Tuesday, April 22
Marshall Softball: HC Morgan Zerkle, Haleigh Adkins, Paige Maynard (Post-Coastal)
Friday, April 18
Hype and Harmony: the Team Personality Fuels Success #softball
Thursday, April 17
