HSU Softball Coach Prepares for 2020 Season

(ABILENE, Texas)–Head Softball Coach Chanin Naudin is in her third season for the Hardin-Simmons University Cowgirls. Since Naudin was hired in the summer of 2017, the team has improved from a 2018 season of 1-37 to finishing with a 21-23 overall record and 15-13 in the American Southwest Conference (ASC) in 2019.

“Last season was incredible,” Naudin said. “We started the year as the youngest team in conference with primarily freshmen on the field and the youngest all female staff. We didn’t start the season strong but kept developing the players and investing in the culture of the program. Midway through the 2019 season, our team began to show this incredible fight and comeback spirit.”

Workers complete the final stages of installing new field lights at the HSU softball field.

The team faced several challenges throughout the season but continued to persevere. Naudin said each win was “a come-from-behind rally to win in the seventh inning, normally in dramatic fashion.” The Cowgirls’ most notable win was against LeTourneau in the conference tournament.

“We had a lot of culture challenges to overcome,” Naudin said. “The new players were a different breed than a majority of the returners and there was some pushback. We had a number of players quit in the transition but every time, the team continued to bond together through the adversity. We also were mostly freshmen. Throughout the season the girls matured as players and as people.”

The team grew to be very close with one another throughout the season; something Naudin believes was a very important tool to its 2019 success.

“The team believed in each other, even if most people didn’t believe they could do it,” she said. “We also saw tremendous growth in spiritual development through the players. A number of girls grew a lot through the Bible studies led by Beth and Ronnie Horrell on Wednesday nights.”

Much like the players, Naudin has also grown in her faith.

“Last season showed me that God can show up big but sometimes it takes patience and perseverance to see those blessings,” she said. “I currently coach four players that I gave lessons to while I was in college. God has placed many girls here at HSU and I love to see those things come to life here.”

Naudin stated she has learned several lessons while coaching at HSU.

“I got the job at 24 years old, eager to change the world of softball,” she said. “What I learned is it’s not as easy as it looks. Culture takes time and lots of prayer to get to where it needs to be. I am thankful that Dr. Neese hired me and gave me the chance to manage an entire program and build it with my own vision.”

The new lights at the softball field.

Although the team did not always have a winning streak, the Abilene community continued to believe in its success. The team was 0-20 at that time.

During the teams first season, donors spoke to Naudin about getting lights for the softball field. “Their belief in the vision is what means the world to me, and the girls playing softball for HSU and will play softball for HSU.” Naudin said.

Thanks to the strong faith and generous contributions from those donors, HSU began installing new lights at Lou Morton Ellis field in December 2019.

Adding lights that will allow the games to begin in the evening will keep the players in their classes longer. Friends, families, and other members of the Abilene community will also have more availability to attend the games due to fewer work or class conflicts.

“We hope that we can continue to have these big walk off moments and have the community there to support!” said Naudin.

The HSU Cowgirls will play their first game using the lights on Feb. 21 against UT-Dallas in the conference opener.