Yvette Girouard
Yvette Girouard (born in Coteau, Louisiana) was the head coach of the Louisiana State University softball team. She retired at the end of the 2011 season.[1]
Girouard began coaching at Lafayette High School in Lafayette, Louisiana in 1977. In 1980, she coached at her alma mater, Comeaux High School, before starting the softball program at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She was head coach of the ULL Lady Cajuns from 1981–2000, posting an overall record of 759-250. Her Louisiana-Lafayette teams advanced to 10 NCAA Tournaments. She also took Louisiana-Lafayette to three Women's College World Series, finishing third in 1993 and fifth in 1995 and 1996.
Girouard left Louisiana-Lafayette in 2001 to take the reins of the LSU program. She finished her career at LSU with a 526-171-1 record. She led LSU to two Women's College World Series (third-place finishes in 2001 and 2004), three SEC championships (2001, 2002, and 2004), four SEC tournament championships (2001, 2002, 2004, and 2007), and two SEC tournament runner-up finishes (2003 and 2006). Her LSU teams played in seven NCAA tournaments.
Girouard is one of only three coaches to take two teams to the Women's College World Series. She was the National Fastpitch Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 1990 and 1993; the Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1984, 1985, and 1987; the Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year in 2000; and the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year in 2001, 2002, and 2006. She is also a 13-time winner of Louisiana Coach of the Year. Between her stints at Louisiana-Lafayette and LSU, her career record is 1,285-421-1.
Girouard was succeeded by current LSU head coach Beth Torina.
Girouard was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2005 and the Louisiana Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in June 2002.
See also
- National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
- List of college softball coaches with 800 career wins