Wendy Hogue Returns to Lead William Carey University Softball

HATTIESBURG, Miss.(WCU)- William Carey University Athletic Director Tracy English has announced the return of Wendy Hogue as the Head Coach of the William Carey Softball team. Hogue led the Lady Crusaders from 2005 to 2014 during her first stint at the helm.
 
“We are excited to welcome Wendy back to our family,” says English. “She is a proven winner and leader, and I can’t wait to work with her and watch her continue to grow the program.”
 
Hogue first arrived at William Carey in 1995 and played on the inaugural softball team in 1996. As a student, she was the recipient of the Halbrook Award and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1998. Her coaching career began at Petal High School in 1998 as an assistant coach for slow pitch softball. In 2000, she was named the school’s first ever head coach for fast pitch softball. During that time, Petal reached the playoffs each year along with winning two district titles.
 
In 2004, Hogue returned home to William Carey to take over a program that hadn’t had a winning season since 1996. By the fourth year, the Lady Crusaders had the programs first ever forty win season along with a berth to the NAIA National Tournament and NAIA World Series. In 2009, the Lady Crusaders won the school’s first ever conference championship en route to another trip to the World Series. Over the next three years, Hogue’s teams won conference titles and earned World Series trips each year. In 2014, the Lady Crusaders reached the championship game of the NAIA World Series, falling just short of capturing the school’s first ever softball national championship. Following the 2014 season, Hogue was named as the Head Softball Coach at the University of Southern Mississippi.
 
Coach Hogue spent the next five seasons at USM, including a C-USA Western Division co-championship in 2016, before resigning her position to spend more time with family. The coaching hiatus didn’t last long, and Hogue rejoined the high school ranks at Petal. In her last game as a head coach in 2022, Hogue and the Panthers made history as they captured the school’s first ever softball state championship. Since then, Hogue has served as the Athletic Director for Petal School District.
 
“God’s providence never ceases to amaze me. The journey He’s allowed me to walk in education and coaching has been a true gift- filled with growth, purpose, and relationships that have shaped my calling. Petal is where that journey began 28 years ago, and it’s where I’ve spent the last six years being stretched, refined, and prepared for what’s next,” says Hogue. “I’m incredibly grateful to Dr. Matt Dillon and the entire Petal School District for their support, encouragement, and belief in me. It’s the people of this district- coaches, students, administrators, and colleagues who have made what should have been an easy decision so difficult.”
 
Hogue will inherit a William Carey team that caught fire late this season and made a post-season push into the NAIA Opening Round. “With a full and grateful heart, I’m excited to return to William Carey University, my alma mater, and my Carey family, as head softball coach,” says Hogue. “A special thanks to Dr. Burnett and the athletics administration for this incredible opportunity. My prayer is that the decision brings glory to God and growth to the program.” Coach Hogue will also get to experience one more season coaching her daughter by coming back. “An added blessing in this season of life is the chance to coach my daughter, Kinley, for her final softball season,” says Hogue. “Kinley and I spent the first 10 years of her life as part of the Carey softball family, and now, to be back as her coach in this special place is truly incredible.”
 
Coach Craig Fletcher, who was an assistant at WCU under Hogue before taking over as head coach in 2015, will remain on Hogue’s staff. Over Fletcher’s eleven seasons, the Lady Crusaders won three SSAC regular season conference championships and three SSAC tournament championships. “I want to thank Coach Fletcher for years of commitment to the Carey way,” says AD Tracy English. “He has led our softball team to top 20 finishes, conference championships, and national tournament appearances all along the way, and we are grateful for him.” Fletcher is the career wins leader in the history of William Carey softball with an overall record of 416-151.
 
The William Carey Athletics family looks forward to welcoming Coach Hogue and her husband, Eric, back into the fold. In addition to their daughter, Kinley, who is a senior at Carey, they also have a thirteen-year-old son, Keaton.