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Coach Yvette Girouard’s TributeCoaching Highlights and Autobiography
Career Record: 1,285-421-1 NATIONAL HONORS 2005 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee 2001 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year 1990, 1993 NFCA National Coach of the Year Seven-Time NFCA South Region Coach of the Year Second-Winningest Active Division I Coach Fifth-Best Winning Percentage Among Active Division I Coaches Fifth-Best All-Time Division I Winning Percentage POSTSEASON ACCOMPLISHMENTS Five Women’s College World Series Appearances One of Three Coaches to Lead Two Programs to the WCWS 20 NCAA Regional Appearances 10 National Top 10 Finishes CONFERENCE HONORS 2001, 2002, 2006 Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year 2000 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year 1984, 1985, 1987 Southland Conference Coach of the Year Nine Conference Championships (UL-Lafayette was Independent from 1988-1999) STATE HONORS 14-Time Louisiana Coach of the Year 2015 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Inductee 2002 Louisiana Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame Inductee 2008 New Iberia Recreation Department Softball Hall of Fame Inductee| St. Cecilia School Hall of Fame Inductee OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS 30-Straight Winning Seasons 42 All-Americans 16 Academic All-Americans MILESTONES First win: USL def. New Orleans, 8-3, 1981 100th win: USL def. Louisiana-Monroe, 5-1, April 13, 1985 200th win: USL def Centenary, 2-0, April 23, 1988 300th win: USL def. Samford, 3-1, Feb. 24, 1991 400th win: USL def. South Carolina, 6-1, April 11, 1993 500th win: USL def. Louisiana Tech, 6-0, March 19, 1995 600th win: USL def. Southwest Missouri State, 1-0, March 29, 1997 700th win: USL def. Southeastern Louisiana, 9-1, April 15, 1999 800th win: LSU def. Kentucky, 5-2, April 21, 2001 900th win: LSU def. Alabama, 4-3, March 29, 2003 1,000th win: LSU def. Arkansas, 8-3, April 6, 2005 1,100th win: LSU def. Auburn, 9-0, March 31, 2007 1,200th win: LSU def. Arizona State, 10-2, May 16, 2009 St. Cecilia, Broussard, LA. – 1st through 8th grade Comeaux High School, Lafayette, LA. – 9th through 12th University of Southwestern Louisiana , BS in Health & Physical Education 1976 Ton’s Drive In – 1965 on and off until 1994 Lafayette Parish Recreation Department 1973 St. Cecilia (Broussard) taught PE 1974 Ascension Elementary taught PE 1975 Lafayette High School PE teacher Volleyball and Softball Coach 1976-1979 Comeaux High School PE teacher and Softball Coach 1980 1981 – 2000 Head Softball Coach USL 2001- 2011 Head Softball Coach LSU As I was being interviewed for the USL Softball job in the fall of 1980 I was told you have no park, no uniforms, no budget and no scholarships, but we do expect you to win. I just laughed and said ok with the urging of my former player at Lafayette High, Lady Cajun standout, Ursula Quoyeser. Five different city parks, my mom making the first uniforms out of hand–me–down basketball warm ups, no scholarships, and a truly part–time coach in that first year yielded the ONLY losing softball season in Cajun history. I remember the second field being across from the track on Bertrand drive and telling the players that we had to retrieve balls in the road before they went in the drain and intramural softball players walking over our makeshift outfield fence to get their balls. Finally Dr. Authement said we would build a park on the dairy farm before Cajun Dome Boulevard was built. I thought “dang no one will ever find us”, as I came face to face with a bull at the overgrown fence. Needless to say that area was the ricest soil at the Athletic Complex. Building the program was a labor of love. The hardest thing I have done in my life was leave to go to LSU. The fans were the hardest to leave. I will always be grateful to the University for giving me a career I never dreamed of. My mom and dad, Alton and Rose Mary Girouard were front and center of my career. They loved, loved, loved their Lady Cajuns and their families. My mom was the “queen of the park” and relished that role. Mama G said her role was to love those girls who were away from their families. She fed the team often, and loved to cook for “her girls”. My dad was available to help me whether it was painting the red fence, or giving me his hand me down trucks so I could drag the infield. My brother and sister in law, Karl and Juanita Girouard worked for my parents so they could follow the team. My nieces, Tammy, Tessie and Hollie Girouard were the best cheerleaders and bat girls an aunt could wish for. I love to fish and travel and of course still be in the outdoors. My bucket list of items is slowing getting punched out in my retirement. I also love doing color commentary for LSU Volleyball and Softball for SEC TV. I am having fun at the ballpark again! I believe you are who you work to be. My career I think was summed up with hard work. I learned that first hand from my parents who worked for so very long at 9 hours a day 7 days a week. Refusing to take the answer no to a question never stopped me from trying to make it a yes at its conclusion. Every athlete, coach and family member who I encountered over my 35 year career impacted and molded my life. I pray that my interaction with them was as satisfiying. I was not able to play sports at a young age, but God granted me a career that I am truly grateful for. I treasure my time with my Lady Cajuns, they were the BEST times of my life. Submitted by Yvette Girouard with assistance from Jennifer Rodrigues, LSU Sports Information. * * * * * * Click here for the 2013 Softball Photo Gallery which includes photos of the 2013 team, the April return to Lamson Park by Yvette, and a photo taken at the Nov., 2013 Softball Reunion.
Click here for her biography posted at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame when she was inducted in 2015. Below her biography is the story written by Dan McDonald for her induction. Click here for Kevin Foote’s April 18, 2013 article about Coach Girouard’s long-awaited return to Lamson Park. Yvette lettered in Volleyball at USL for four years. Two years of USL Volleyball team have been captured by the AN. Please go to the Volleyball Photo Gallery, then click on 1973 & 1975. Click here for the Nov. 9, 2013 story by Dan McDonald entitled, “UL Softball – 30 years of Guts and Glory.” Yvette is a 1976 graduate of Health & Physlcal Education at USL. In preparation of the College of Education Academic Showcase in Nov., 1998 and the Centennial Celebration the following year, she wrote one of the letters in posted in the Book of Letters. Please click here for her letter and click here for the link to the 147 letters in the Book of Letters. Please click here for the listings of the Conference Championships and Post Season Appearances for Softball during Coach Girouard’s tenure. Posted by Dr. Ed Dugas athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu
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