Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
Beth Mullins is in her third season with the Bulldog softball program after serving as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky in 2011. She had previously been an assistant coach at UAB and Georgia Southern.
"Beth is one of the top young coaches in college softball," Stuedeman said. "She's a player's coach who has undoubtedly make a positive impact in our Mississippi State program. She brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise to MSU. We are very fortunate to have a coach of Beth's caliber become an integral part of our Bulldog family."
The Fairhope, Ala., native primarily coaches the outfielders, but along with assistant coach Alan Reach, also serves as the hitting coach. In addition, Mullins handles the organization and execution of MSU Softball Clinics as well as aids in the recruiting process.
During her second year in Starkville, Mullins helped the Bulldogs to a second-straight NCAA Tournament trip, backed by an offense that set the program record with 51 home runs, besting the previous mark by four. She also guided the squad to 2.00 stolen bases per game, tying the program record, and the second-most swipes in a campaign in MSU history with 114.
Mississippi State snapped a trio of Southeastern Conference losing streaks during the 2013 campaign, breaking a 27-game skid against Alabama, a 21-game streak versus LSU and a 17-game slump against Florida. The Bulldogs’ overall nine-game winning streak from Feb. 23-March 6 was tied for the seventh longest in program history and the five-game Southeastern Conference winning streak from April 7-19 was tied for the sixth best in program history.
Mullins guided juniors Logan Foulks and Sam Lenahan to National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-South Region Second Team honors. The pair was joined by Alison Owen, making it the most Bulldogs on the honor squad since 2009 and only the fourth time in program history having three or more selections.
Foulks led the Bulldogs with 13 home runs, 53 hits and 102 total bases in 2012. The 13 long balls are tied for the fifth most in a year in program history while her 0.23 homers per game are the fourth-best mark for an MSU player. Foulks also topped the squad with a 15-game hitting streak during the campsign.
Lenahan was guided by Mullins to the best season of her career. She turned in a team-best 14 multiple-hit games and a squad-high 14 multiple-RBI contests while also pacing the Bulldogs with seven game-winning runs batted in. Lenahan tied the single-season record for walks with 51 and established the mark for walks per game with 0.89. Her 10 home runs during the campaign are also tied for the seventh most in a year in program history while her 12 doubles are tied for the fifth most by a Mississippi State junior.
Mullins’ teaching helped the Bulldogs end the campaign with their highest slugging percentage since 2004 with a .422 mark.
In her first season as an assistant coach in the Southeastern Conference, Mullins developed left fielder Jessica Cooley into one of the most feared power hitters in the conference. Having hit two home runs with a career .202 average in 95 games entering her junior season, Cooley thrived under Mullins’ coaching, collecting a team-best 15 home runs. The total was tied for the fourth most in the SEC and the third most in school history. In addition to the power numbers, Mullins helped Cooley finish with a .310 batting average. Cooley was named a Third-Team All-American by CollegeSportsMadness.com, becoming MSU’s sixth All-American. As a result of her extra work in the cage with Mullins in late February, Cooley was named SEC Softball Player of the Week on March 5, 2012, and the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week on March 6, 2012. The league honor was MSU’s first in over a year and the national accolade was the second in school history.
Mullins’ first season in Starkville also coincided with the meteoric rise of center fielder Jessica Offutt. After batting .154 with four hits and five stolen bases in three starts (35 games played) in her debut campaign in 2011, Offutt started all 57 games in 2012, hitting at a .268 clip with 42 hits and a team-best 17 stolen bases. Offutt continued her climb as a junior, batting .314, the second-best mark among the regular starters. She also turned in 13 walks and 17 runs batted in.
With Mullins working on her base running skills in 2012, Offutt became the first player in school history with a flawless stolen-base percentage (17-of-17) with a minimum of 15 attempts, and added 21 swipes as a junior. Offutt was not the only one who reaped the benefits of Mullins and her base-running teachings, as MSU finished 22nd nationally in 2012 in stolen bases per game (1.61).
As a whole, the Bulldogs’ offense improved under the tutelage of Mullins in seven major statistical categories: batting average (.262 to .274), runs scored (233 to 254), hits (372 to 397), walks (182 to 202), strikeouts (351 to 282), on-base percentage (.357 to .383) and stolen bases (48 to 92). With an advanced two-strike approach and a more disciplined approach at the plate, Mullins guided hitters to a then-school record in walks and walks per game (3.54). The 2012 offense finished in the single-season top 10 in school history in runs, home runs, slugging percentage and stolen bases.
Defensively, Mullins coached with Vann Stuedeman’s “Gotta Be Caught” mentality. As a result, MSU improved from an SEC-high 58 doubles allowed in 2011 to a much lower mark of 39 two-baggers given up in 2012. Fielding improved dramatically, increasing the Bulldogs’ fielding percentage from 2011 to 2012 by nine points (.954 to .963). The defense gave up only 154 earned runs in 2012, almost 100 fewer than the previous spring’s 250.
Prior to her arrival in Starkville, Mullins tutored the 2011 Western Kentucky squad to the highest batting average in school history (.279). The Lady Toppers also set single-season records for triples (14), RBIs (221) and slugging percentage (.419).
Mullins made the move to WKU following a three-year stint at her alma mater, UAB. In her final season with the Blazers in 2010, the squad broke 15 individual and team offensive records while making its first NCAA regional appearance. The group also topped Conference USA in six offensive categories. During her tenure, UAB improved in team batting average, doubles, triples, RBIs and runs scored each season.
Mullins returned to her old playing field after a two-year stop as an assistant coach at Georgia Southern. During that stint, she helped the Eagles to a Southern Conference Tournament title and the program’s first NCAA Tournament appearance.
In 2006, she tutored SoCon Player of the Year Shanita Black, who broke 12 school records en route to earning conference tournament Most Outstanding Player and All-Southeast Region accolades.
A starter for the Blazers from 2001-04, Mullins was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team. As a sophomore in 2002, she led the team in RBI (31) and walks (17) as the Blazers won a then-program-best 39 games. During her junior campaign in 2003, Mullins led the team in home runs (five) and walks (16).
As a senior, the right-handed hitter was named All-Conference USA after anchoring the squad in batting average (.311), hits (51), on-base percentage (.379), RBI (27) and home runs (five). The future coach posted at least 20 wins all four seasons as a player at UAB, finishing her career ranked in the program’s top 10 in: RBI (fourth), home runs (fifth), total bases (fifth), hits (sixth), doubles (sixth) and walks (seventh).
THE BETH MULLINS FILE
Birthdate: Sept. 29, 1982
Hometown: Fairhope, Ala.
Education: Bachelor of Political Science, UAB, 2004
COACHING CAREER:
Volunteer Assistant Coach, UAB, 2004-05
Assistant Coach, Georgia Southern, 2005-07
Assistant Coach, UAB, 2007-10
Assistant Coach, Western Kentucky, 2010-11
Assistant Coach, Mississippi State, 2011-Present
PLAYING CAREER:
Fairhope HS, 1996-2000
UAB, 2000-04
