image via Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Twitter
Former Ragin’ Cajuns two-sport star and former assistant Alabama softball coach Alyson Habetz is returning to U-L Lafayette as head softball coach following Gerry Glasco’s departure for Texas Tech. Hall of Fame coach Yvette Girouard, who coached Habetz when she played softball for the Cajuns in the early 1990s, says this is Grand Slam hire.
“She is a tremendous hire for the university,” said Girouard. “In fact, when the change was made from [former softball head coach Michael] Lotief, the university and I tried to get her to say yes to the job, but she was still an assistant at Alabama and felt the need to stay there, but this is the perfect timing.”
Habetz coached for 25 years as an assistant coach at Alabama. She retired following the 2023 season so she can return to Crowley to take of her ailing mother.
Before that, she played softball and basketball at U-L Lafayette, and even helped lead the Cajuns to the 1993 Women’s College World Series. Girouard says longtime Ragin’ Cajun fans and alumni are especially excited to have Habetz back.
“They absolutely love her, and I think they’ll do anything to help her,” says Girouard. “You know, it’s a rabid fan base, don’t get me wrong. They want to win. But she’ll have, you know, more than a first, second and third chance, so that’s awefully good for her.”
Though Girouard and others have been pushing for Habetz to coach at U-L Lafayette for years, Girouard credits Cajuns Athletic Director Dr. Bryan Maggard as the person to finally convince Habetz, a Crowley native, to come home.
“He was persistent,” says Girouard. “He tried to get her, you know, when Glasco came in, and he’s never waivered from that point. And she told him no right away, but he kind of persisted and I think kind of showed her the path to where it could be a go.”
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