In the Dugout with Lacy Prejean
2/4/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 4, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - From playing for Patrick Murphy at Alabama, to then coaching at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where Murphy got his start, and now back to working for him as director of softball operations, Lacy Prejean is following a road that has been paved in success by her former coach, turned colleague.
Although she did not enter the coaching profession immediately after college, having been a member of team sports from an early age, Prejean found herself missing the diamond when her playing days ended and looked to make a return to softball. Following a three-year stint as an assistant at ULL, the opportunity to join her former coach was one not worth passing up.
"That first year when I was away from the game, it was real hard on me," Prejean said. "The position was available and Coach Murphy asked if I was interested in coming back. To be able to get back into the Alabama softball family was big."
As a catcher for the Crimson Tide from 1999-2003, Prejean was a member of the 2000 team that took Alabama to its first ever berth in the College World Series. Since rejoining the Tide last year, Prejean has been able to witness UA's team extend its stay in Oklahoma City and build on the momentum that she and her teammates helped to establish.
With such a deep appreciation for how far the team has moved up the ranks in recent years, Prejean cannot help but reminisce on her days as a player.
"I am so happy for the coaching staff and for the players because I know how hard they've worked," Prejean said. "It's an honor to say that I was able to wear the jersey before them and also was able to help them get where they are today. I wish sometimes that I could still be a part of this team."
Early on in her playing days with the Tide, Prejean took note of Murphy's coaching style and the effect it had on young athletes. Now, as a member of Murphy's staff and an aspiring coach herself, she can learn how he has transformed Alabama's softball program into a perennial contender.
"Not only was it a great experience to be a student-athlete here and play for Alabama," Prejean said, "But to be able to work on the administrative side of it and be in the office with Coach Murphy, Alyson Habetz and Vann Stuedeman is a great experience. To be able to learn from three great coaches and learn the right way of doing things with their expertise in different areas, that and getting my masters were the main reasons I came back."
Although she may not be a part of the squad that takes the field, Prejean's role still remains an integral part of the team's off the field business. As director of softball operations her daily duties can range anywhere from making travel arrangements to keeping up with the student-athletes' academic progress among other duties.
As for her future in coaching, the Louisiana native looks to return home someday to her hometown of Lafayette and try to establish a gold system club team. Because she grew up when fast pitch softball was not a prevalent sport in the South and had to participate on club teams instead of middle school and high school teams, her goal is to give young athletes the chance to be exposed to the sport at a high level.
"Unless there is a job that I can't turn down in college softball, then I want to be a summer ball, select team level coach back in Louisiana," Prejean said. "That is what helped me get a scholarship in softball. I want to try to give back to those girls so they can have an opportunity like I had."
