MSU Adds Keilani Ricketts To Coaching Staff
August 19, 2015 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With recent additions having been made to the roster, the Mississippi State softball coaching staff just received an upgrade as well, in the form of two-time USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Keilani Ricketts.
Ricketts will serve as a volunteer assistant coach for the Bulldogs under head coach Vann Stuedeman.
The younger sister of MSU assistant coach Samantha Ricketts, Keilani completed her third season in National Pro Fastpitch August 17. Ricketts was selected fourth overall out of the University of Oklahoma by the USSSA Pride in the 2013 NPF College Draft and spent her 2011 and 2012 summers as a member of Team USA.
“There is something special about a two-time NCAA Player of the Year and national champion joining your softball family,” said Stuedeman. “I would like to introduce and welcome Keilani as the newest member of our coaching staff. She comes to us with vast amounts of experience.”
Keilani led the Sooners to the Women's College World Series championship in 2013 from inside the circle and has been a member of Team USA the past two summers. Keilani was also named the WCWS Most Outstanding Player and the Big 12 Pitcher of the Year during the 2013 campaign.
“I am looking forward to helping the Mississippi State softball program, said Keilani. “I started following the team last year when my sister joined the staff and became a fan of the tenacity this team has with the leadership of these coaches. I am so thankful Vann is allowing me be a volunteer coach so that I can learn from her and her staff as well as offer whatever help the players need while I am here.”
A 2013 graduate of the OU, Keilani majored in communications. Along with her older sister, her other siblings include Richard (a former member of the Air Force Academy football team) and Stephanie (a former softball player at the University of Hawaii).
“What is more, is that she comes from a great family and is a quality person,” Stuedeman said. “She will serve as an invaluable role model for our student athletes. It has been said that if you surround yourself with good people, good things will happen. We are surrounding our program with good people and winners.”
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Keilani's Accolades
2013 & 2014 NPF Champion
2012 & 2013 National Player of the Year
2012 Honda Softball Player of the Year
2013 Women's College World Series MVP
2013 Honda Cup Winner
2012 Big 12 Player of the Year
NFCA First Team All-American (2011-13)
2013 NFCA First Team
Four-time NFCA All-Central Region First Team (2010-13)
Four-time All-Big 12 First Team (2010-13)
2013 All-Big 12 Defensive Team
2012 finalist for Women's Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year
2010 NFCA Second Team All-American
2010 Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player
2010 Top-25 finalist for USA Softball's National Collegiate Player of the Year