MVSU softball coach announces retirement after 19 years

Mississippi Valley State University head softball coach Lee Smith has announced retirement after 19 seasons with the team.

Smith made his decision public on Thursday, but will stay on as an associate athletic director.

“I would like to thank all of the former athletes and current players who chose to come and play for me and attend this university,” said Smith. “I love Valley, and I am so thankful for the opportunity given to me almost 20-years ago. I want everyone who has supported us over the years to continue to provide that support to this program,” he added.

Smith is currently MVSU’s most winningest softball coach in the program’s history with a 414-533 record and was SWAC Coach of the Year nine times.

“My experience at Valley has been awesome. To work with this program since its inception and to be given the opportunity at 25-years-old to coach means the world to me,” said Smith. “I have worked with great athletes on and off the field. I have coach academic All-Americans and All-SWAC performers. Our student-athletes have done amazing things in their lives, and I feel honored to have had the chance to share in their lives. The most important thing to me is that the parents and student-athletes trusted me. These students came a long way to go to school in the Mississippi Delta and play softball.”