Natalie Poole is returning as head softball coach at McNeese State where she both played and served as an assistant coach.

McNeese athletic director Tommy McClelland announced the selection of Poole who has spent the last seven seasons as head coach at Georgia Southern. She will assume the position on July 1.

A meet and greet function for Poole has been set for June 18 when the Hodges Street Fieldhouse will hold a grand opening. All fans are invited to attend.

"The committee did an excellent job of researching and searching to find an outstanding coach who they felt could take over our softball program," McClelland said. "We conducted a very high quality search and Natalie was the one who rose to the top.

"The things that attracted us to Natalie were her experience at the Division I level and the type of program she runs on the field and in the classroom. Being that she is a former Cowgirl, we are very confident that she has the program's best interests in mind and can lead our softball program to the next level of success.

"The fact that we were able to hire a coach with seven years of head coaching experience at the Division I level is a result of the investments made by the university, the athletic department, the McNeese Athletic Foundation and its chapters as well as the entire community. I want to thank everyone who has made an investment in the program. We're heading in the right direction."

There were a total of 52 applicants for the position and five were selected to be interviewed. The other four included current McNeese assistant coach Sara Vogt, North Carolina-Pembroke head coach Steve Johnson, Marshall University first assistant coach Shane Winkler and Wichita State University first assistant Chris Kuhlmeyer.

"I'm excited about the opportunity to come back to start rebuilding a program that I once was a part of," Poole said. "It is a program that I am familiar with and I look forward to being a part of the improvements around McNeese State and the softball program. I also look forward to coming back to my alma mater. It's a place I call my second home." A native of Baton Rouge, Poole coached Georgia Southern to 212 victories in her seven seasons there. Her 2008 squad posted a 37-30 won-lost record and a 13-8 record in the Southern Conference while having eight players named to the all-conference team.

During her stint at Georgia Southern, Poole was named the league's coach of the year (2002), twice coached the league's player of the year and led the Eagles to their first ever NCAA tournament appearance (2006).

Her team's conference record during her career with the Eagles was 84-61 with five top three finishes including a second place this past season. The Eagles also set school single season records for home runs, fielding percentage, shutouts and conference victories.

As an athlete at McNeese, Poole was one of the best. Three times she was named to the all-Southland Conference team, was named an academic all-American in 1997, twice earned all-South regional recognition, was a three time academic all-district pick and an all-Louisiana choice.

Poole was the Cowgirl starting catcher for four seasons and in her senior season was named the team's most valuable player.

She posted a .296 career batting average and as a freshman helped the Cowgirls win the SLC title and a berth in the NCAA tournament.

She earned her bachelor degree from McNeese in 1998 and her master degree in 2000.

Poole was an assistant coach for the Cowgirls from 1999 to 2001 and was named the head coach at Georgia Southern in 2001.

The new McNeese head coach presently serves as a member of the 2008 NCAA softball committee and is serving in that capacity at the women's College World Series this week.

She becomes McNeese's ninth softball coach, taking over for Chris Malveaux who served as head coach four years.