Needless to say, it’s been a “whirlwind” of learning, recruiting and establishing her new system over the two weeks since Alyson Habetz was introduced as UL’s new softball coach.
The first big step of putting together a new coaching staff has been officially completed with Shellie Landry, Lacy Prejean, Shelbi Sunseri and Karly Heath announced Friday.
Habetz said the staff being 100% comprised of female coaches is more of a coincidence than a grand plan.
“It just kind of worked out that way,” she said. “It wasn’t my design. I actually would like to have a male somewhere on staff.
“It just kind of happened this way, but it was more about people who I knew had the same values as me and who I trusted. It ended up being all female, so we’re going to run with it. I’m excited about it.”
In many ways, keeping Landry on the staff was a necessity, but it went far deeper than that for Habetz.
“I don’t know if there’s a word to describe how important Shellie has been,” Habetz said. “She’s a rock. She’s the glue. What Shellie has invested into this program is monumental. But for Shellie, I don’t know that this program is even still here the way that it is.”
When Michael Lotief was forced to leave in 2017, Landry served as the interim coach to keep things afloat and she did so again after Gerry Glasco left in June.
“She’s a hard worker,” Habetz added. “Her work ethic is — you just don’t find people like that — especially her age these days. She works hard because it’s not a job for her. It’s a life. She loves this place and she’s passionate about this place.
“She conveys that in a way that’s so beautiful. I just appreciate having her. I want to make it great for her too.”
Habetz’s connection to Prejean goes back to speaking to Prejean’s 12-year-old recreation team in Scott three decades ago. She coached and worked with Prejean in Alabama.
“She knows how to win,” Habetz said of Prejean. “She knows how to take it to the next level. She knows how to get to the College World Series. That’s important.
“Also, she’s from here and she’s proud of where she’s from and that’s important for recruiting. She has the skills to do it all. She connects with athletes. She gets it.”
Habetz began to appreciate Sunseri competing against her when Alabama played LSU.
“For me coming from Alabama now, to get a pitcher from LSU to come to UL, that says a lot about Shelbi,” Habetz said. “I always admired her as a competitor.”
A two-way performer at LSU, Sunseri also hit a homer when discussing her plan as a pitching coach in the interview.
“She was telling me how she was going to connect with each pitcher,” Habetz said. “That’s what I want to do. That’s the core of the culture we want to build. To know what makes them good, what motivates them. What do they need as people first?”
That’s the difference Habetz hopes to bring.
“What do you need?” she added. “If I’m not connected with you and I don’t know you and you don’t know me, then I can’t help you in the times that I need you most.
“Shelbi is very much in line with the value system that I want to bring here — the connection piece.”
The next step fo Habetz is recruiting. From trying to keep players already on the Ragin’ Cajuns’ roster to identifying potential newcomers in the transfer portal.
“Obviously, it’s kind of late in the game,” Habetz said. “ When you need pitching, you try to get on the portal and try to find some good pitchers. Here recently a few have gotten on that I think can help impact our team.
“It’s been a process to work through it to get them here, but now that we can get them on campus, I feel confident we’re going to get some good athletes who fit into our culture.”
According to Habetz, all the incoming true freshmen are still planning to come to Lafayette.
In addition to the goal of trying to sign three new pitchers, Habetz said a catcher and perhaps two more infielders make up the priority list.
“There are some diamonds in the rough,” Habetz said. “There are some kids who on paper look good, on video look good and can make a difference here with the right coaching and the right development.”
Once the portal recruiting phase is completed and the players return to school, an early September retreat will be planned for everyone on the team to get to know each other.
Another thing on Habetz's to-do list is to honor the seniors’ time in the program by completing a locker room project discussed for years.
“I want the seniors to know that they’re important to me,” Habetz insisted. “First, the new locker room that’s been promised since they were freshmen, so that’s my priority.
“We’re going to make it special for them because I think they deserve that.”