ULM softball adds assistant

The ULM Warhawks softball program has added former collegiate and professional softball pitcher Keli Harrell to its staff as an assistant coach as announced by head softball coach Corey Lyon on Monday.

“I am very excited with the addition of Keli Harrell,” Lyon said. “I believe that she brings to the table exactly what we need to take our pitching staff to the next level. She has competed at the highest level against the best of the best and has a great passion for teaching pitching.”

Harrell began her amateur career at East Carolina University and was a first-team all-conference selection and Conference USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year in 2006. Additionally, Harrell currently stands atop the career saves leaderboard (14) and second in career strikeouts (948) at ECU.

A native of Greenville, North Carolina, Harrell spent majority of her post-college era close to home, becoming a graduate assistant for her alma mater immediately completing her undergraduate degree in 2007. Harrell further developed her skills in recruiting, mentoring, and training athletes and organizing budget and travel en route to being part of an ECU staff that was named Conference USA Coaching Staff of the Year and Mideast Region Staff of the Year in 2010.

While in graduate school at ECU, Harrell spent her summers as a pitcher in professional softball, beginning in Michigan before travelling overseas to the Netherlands and Austria. Harrell led the Twins (Netherlands) to the semifinals in league play and led the European Cup in strikeouts for the Superfund Wanderers (Austria).

Following her professional career, Harrell further honed her skills as an interim assistant softball coach at Queens University of Charlotte before spending the next three years as a coach for South Central High School in Winterville, North Carolina, leading the Falcons to two Coastal Conference Championships (3A).

Harrell returned to her alma mater once more this past January as interim assistant softball coach before joining Lyon’s staff.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to continue my coaching career at ULM with coach Lyon,” Harrell said. “We share the same passion for the game and the same vision for how to facilitate a winning tradition. He has already created a competitive and winning atmosphere in his short time here. I am excited to contribute my skills and help build on the foundation he has already laid here at ULM.”

Harrell holds a bachelor’s degree in family and community services and a master’s degree in sports management from ECU.