Meghan Collins was named the third head softball coach in program history in July 2019. Collins is in her sixth season on the Cajun Prairie.
Under her leadership, LSU Eunice has been a mainstay as a nationally ranked team in NJCAA Division II. Coach Collins has produced five All-Americans including 2021 National Catcher of the Year Olivia Hennen. The Louisiana native has helped develop one of the most prolific pitchers in LSUE history - Chloe Bennett - and the all-time stolen base leader in the Bengal history books, Maci Baldwin.
Collins brought the Bengals back to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in the 2022 season. It was the program's 10th appearance in the National Tournament. Collins navigated LSUE through what was statistically the strongest schedule in junior college softball, earning 10 wins over NJCAA ranked opponents. The Bengals rose back into the top 10 of the NJCAA national polls behind a pair of first-team All-Americans, Maddie Leal and Chloe Bennett.
In her first year atop the helm, LSUE posted a 12-11 record before the season came to a halt. The Bengals scored their first marquee win under Collins with a 5-4 walk-off victory over then Division I top-ranked Chipola College on February 9. The game at the Visit Dothan Invitational pitted the two defending National Champions in Divisions I and II.
The Bengals also developed for hard-nosed teams with no quit, rallying from a ten-run deficit to defeat a nationally ranked Lake Land College team in the first weekend of the season.
Prior to LSUE, Collins served two seasons as an assistant at the University of Montevallo. While with the Falcons, Collins guided an offense in 2018 that was ranked Top 10 nationally in four separate offensive categories including batting average, on-base percentage, scoring and stolen bases. Montevallo’s 2018 offense was led by NFCA Golden Shoe Award winner, Darbi Duke, given to the NCAA Division II stolen bases leader.
The Falcons made a Gulf South Conference Tournament appearance in her first year with the team.
The Lacombe, La. native served as an assistant at Southeastern Louisiana from 2015-2017, concentrating on hitting. The Lions tied the NCAA Division I lead with 162 stolen bases in 2017, and would finish atop the nation the year prior with 172.
Collins coached four student-athletes at SLU to All-Southland Conference accolades, including the Newcomer of the Year in 2016. The Lions also placed five on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Academic team under Collins.
The University of South Alabama alum started her coaching career at her alma mater as a member of the Jaguars’ staff for two years upon graduation during the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
At South Alabama as a student-athlete, Collins helped lead the Jaguars to two Sun Belt Conference Championships and two NCAA Regional Finals. South Alabama’s 2012 Sun Belt Title was a first in program history.
Collins still holds the program record with 189 consecutive starts as well as top marks for doubles (40) and walks (102), and is Top 10 in 13 different offensive categories.
In addition to her prowess on the field, Collins was a standout in the classroom, earning NFCA Academic All-American honors and on the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner’s List all four years as a student-athlete. Collins also received the “Extra Mile” Award, which is given to the athlete that most displays hard work, leadership, and goes the “extra mile” on a daily basis. The award was voted on by her teammates and give to her following her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Collins received her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science in 2013 and her Masters of Science in 2014 from the University of South Alabama.
| About Meghan Collins |
Full Name
Meghan Marie Collins |
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Hometown
Lacombe, LA |
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Education
2009-2013 University of South Alabama, B.S. Exercise Science
2013-2014 University of South Alabama, Masters Of Science |
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Playing Experience
2009-2013 University of South Alabama |
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| Coaching Experience |
2013-2015 Graduate Assistant, University of South Alabama (NCAA Division I)
2015-2017 Assistant Coach, Southeastern Louisiana University (NCAA Division I)
2017-2019 Assistant Coach, University of Montevallo (NCAA Division II)
2019-Present Head Coach, LSU Eunice |
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Head Coaching Record
Year W L Highest Ranking
At LSU Eunice
2020 12 11 ranked #1 in nation
2021 34 22 ranked #5 in nation
2022 36 22 ranked #7 in nation
2023 41 20 ranked #7 in nation
2024 42 14 ranked #8 in nation
Career Totals 165 89 (.649)
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