Mississippi State head softball coach Samantha Ricketts receives contract extension – The Dispatch

Samantha Ricketts led Mississippi State softball to its first-ever NCAA Tremendous Regional in 2022.

So it’s straightforward to see why the Bulldogs needed to maintain her round.

The MSU head coach, who simply accomplished her third season accountable for the Bulldogs’ program, obtained a contract extension by means of the 2026 season. Her four-year time period is the longest allowable contract by Mississippi regulation.

Phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.

“Coach Ricketts has improved our program throughout the previous three seasons as our head coach,” athletic director John Cohen stated in a information launch Tuesday. “It’s evident that Coach Ricketts and her employees have labored tirelessly to raise Mississippi State softball to the Tremendous Regional stage. We’re very excited concerning the future and sit up for reaching new heights below Samantha’s management.”

Ricketts additionally saved her employees intact, selling assistants Tyler Bratton and Josh Johnson to affiliate head coach. Johnson, the Bulldogs’ pitching coach, will function the crew’s recruiting coordinator.

“I’m grateful that John Cohen believes in our employees and the way forward for our program,” Ricketts stated. “Coach Johnson and Coach Bratton are an integral a part of what we’re constructing and have been hitting the recruiting path, seeking to proceed constructing on the muse of what final yr’s crew constructed. These titles are recognition of their dedication to and exhausting work for this program as they proceed to push us ahead to make extra historical past for Mississippi State softball.”

Ricketts took over for Vann Stuedeman, starting her head teaching tenure with a 25-3 document within the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Mississippi State made a 3rd straight regional closing in 2021 earlier than surpassing that feat this spring.

The Bulldogs upset No. 2 nationwide seed Florida State twice to win the Tallahassee Regional and host this system’s first Tremendous Regional. MSU was swept by Arizona in two video games.

Ricketts owns a profession 97-55 document as a head coach. She served as an assistant at MSU from 2015 to 2019.

Ricketts’ extension comes on the heels of a reported extension for soccer coach Mike Leach final week.

Theo DeRosa experiences on Mississippi State sports activities for The Dispatch. Observe him on Twitter at @Theo_DeRosa.