Photo by: Mississippi State Athletics
Ricketts Adds Desporte To Softball Staff
November 02, 2021 | Softball
STARKVILLE – Samantha Ricketts has hired Jamie Desporte as the newest member of the Mississippi State softball staff. Desporte will serve as director of operations and handle team travel and equipment ordering along with other operational duties.
"We are excited to bring Jamie back to Starkville in her new role as director of softball operations," Ricketts said. "She is a Mississippi native and an MSU grad and has a huge heart for Mississippi State and the softball program. Her organizational and personal skills will help her jump right in and fit in well with the team and staff."
Desporte previously served as a student manager in the Bulldogs' program before she graduated with an education degree in 2016. She recently completed her master's degree in sports administration through Arkansas State's online program.
For the past four years, Desporte has been coaching middle school and high school softball at St. Martin Middle and St. Martin High in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. In addition to her coaching duties, she taught broadcast journalism classes.
"Mississippi State has always been so special to me," Desporte said. "I grew up a fan of the Bulldogs and then attended school here and fell in love with Starkville and everything the university had to offer. I've said a million times that 'If I could go back to Mississippi State, I would leave tomorrow,' so I did. When Coach Ricketts called me, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Aside from my love for the game of softball and Mississippi State, I knew that she, Coach Bratton and Coach Josh are an exceptional group of mentors that I'm blessed to work with. I'm so grateful for this opportunity."
Desporte played softball collegiately at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where she played in 30 games before transferring to Starkville and joining the Bulldogs.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
"We are excited to bring Jamie back to Starkville in her new role as director of softball operations," Ricketts said. "She is a Mississippi native and an MSU grad and has a huge heart for Mississippi State and the softball program. Her organizational and personal skills will help her jump right in and fit in well with the team and staff."
Desporte previously served as a student manager in the Bulldogs' program before she graduated with an education degree in 2016. She recently completed her master's degree in sports administration through Arkansas State's online program.
For the past four years, Desporte has been coaching middle school and high school softball at St. Martin Middle and St. Martin High in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. In addition to her coaching duties, she taught broadcast journalism classes.
"Mississippi State has always been so special to me," Desporte said. "I grew up a fan of the Bulldogs and then attended school here and fell in love with Starkville and everything the university had to offer. I've said a million times that 'If I could go back to Mississippi State, I would leave tomorrow,' so I did. When Coach Ricketts called me, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. Aside from my love for the game of softball and Mississippi State, I knew that she, Coach Bratton and Coach Josh are an exceptional group of mentors that I'm blessed to work with. I'm so grateful for this opportunity."
Desporte played softball collegiately at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College where she played in 30 games before transferring to Starkville and joining the Bulldogs.
For more information on the Bulldog softball program, follow on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching "HailStateSB."
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