The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Softball Coach Candi Letts Resigns After Seven Seasons
5/16/2005 | Softball
May 16, 2005
OXFORD, Miss. - Citing a desire to pursue other opportunities closer to home, Ole Miss head softball coach Candi Letts has resigned her position after seven seasons at the helm of the Rebel program.
The 2005 Rebels compiled a 30-28 overall record, which marked the first winning season in the nine-year history of the school's fast-pitch program. Ole Miss was 10-20 inside the Southeastern Conference and led the league in double plays with 26. Twelve of those 20 SEC losses were by two runs or less.
"With the exception of getting to the Southeastern Conference tournament, I've pretty much accomplished everything I wanted to get done as head coach at Ole Miss," Letts said. "We accomplished the first winning season this year, while playing a highly competitive non-conference schedule and being competitive in the SEC. I'm real proud of that."
During her seven years as head coach, Ole Miss went 153-246, including 53-153 inside the SEC. She is 308-351-1 in 12 seasons, including five seasons as head coach at Colorado State.
Letts said she felt the time was right to step away from the program after having a successful 2005 season.
"The program is on the up-swing and is set up for continued success, and that's the way I would like to leave. I really believe that everybody at Ole Miss should be excited that the program is in much better shape than when I inherited it."
The 2006 Rebels will return their entire pitching staff (Dana Brill, Mary Jane Callahan, and Tara Willitt) which finished third this spring in the SEC in ERA at 1.65. Brill and Callahan both finished in the top 10 in the SEC in five pitching categories.
"I'm excited for the kids coming back, who will be important as the program continues to build," Letts said. "For me, personally, I'm also excited about the opportunities out there for me as I seek challenges closer to home in the Midwest."
Senior Associate Athletics Director Lynnette Johnson said Ole Miss will begin an immediate search to hire a new head softball coach.
