University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Staff Directory
Habetz, Alyson
Alyson Habetz
- Title:
- Head Coach
Alyson Habetz, a celebrated Ragin' Cajuns student-athlete and renowned softball coach, was appointed to serve as the fifth head coach in Louisiana Softball's storied history on June 25, 2024.
Habetz resumed her coaching career, that includes 25 years of high-achieving success with the University of Alabama’s nationally recognized Crimson Tide softball program, after a brief one-year stay away from the game of softball during the 2024 season.
Prior to stepping in to lead the Ragin' Cajuns, Habetz served first as an assistant coach from 1999-2007 and then as associate head coach from 2008-2023 with the Crimson Tide. Working on Patrick Murphy’s staff, she helped guide Alabama to six SEC regular season titles, five SEC Tournament titles, 14 Women's College World Series appearances and in 2012 the Tide won its first national championship and the first for any Southeastern Conference program.
A native of nearby Crowley, Louisiana, Habetz ascended to the head coach ranks in her hometown area of the Acadiana region. A basketball and softball player for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1990-95, she returned to where her impactful contributions to women’s athletics began.
“I am honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity that Dr. Savoie and Dr. Maggard have provided to lead one of the premiere softball programs in the country at a place I call home, the University of Louisiana,” Habetz said. “This is where my softball journey began and my love for the Ragin’ Cajuns program, its fans, and the community runs deep.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to continue the championship tradition Coach Girouard started many years ago, and I’m equally excited to build a positive team culture that will enable our athletes to thrive both on and off the field.”
Year No. 1 back with her alma mater saw Habetz quickly put her stamp on the program, developing the concept and fundraising to see a locker room renovation begin following the completion of the 2025 season. The work will turn the Ragin' Cajuns team headquarters into a state-of-the-art facility beginning with fall 2025 workouts.
Habetz's debut season as head coach was highlighted by Louisiana repeating as the nation's leader in double plays turned and Emily Smith being named the Sun Belt's Freshman of the Year. Louisiana collected victories over WCWS participant Ole Miss and against Alabama at the Rhoads House, then delivered a gritty end-of-the-season performance winning eight of the last nine SBC games to rise to third place in the league standings.
Habetz placed an added emphasis on the student-athletes themselves, implementing a new Ragin' Cajuns tradition by holding individual Senior Day activities throughout the season.
Her first offseason saw the Homecoming of Kaplan, Louisiana native Kennedy Marceaux who joined the program via the transfer portal. The 2024 Louisiana Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, Marceaux continues her softball career a mere 28 miles from where she grew into a standout in the sport.
After shining on the stage as a student-athlete, Habetz officially entered the collegiate softball coaching ranks on September 21, 1998 by joining Murphy’s staff at Alabama. From that point on, she played a significant role in developing the Tide into one of the nation’s perennial elite.
Working primarily with the Crimson Tide’s outfielders during her tenure in Tuscaloosa, Habetz helped mentor many All-Americans including four-time honorees Kelly Kretschman (1998-2001), Brittany Rogers (2006-09) and Haylie McCleney (2013-16).
In addition to the championships and postseason successes, together Habetz and Murphy directed Alabama to 1,238 victories, a 73 percent winning percentage in SEC play, 61 NFCA All-Americans, 111 NFCA All-South Region awards, 110 All-SEC honorees, 63 Academic All-America honors and 288 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections. Their staff was honored as NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year 10 times and captured the 2012 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Prior to beginning her coaching career in collegiate softball, Habetz spent four years in women’s professional baseball following her days as a Ragin’ Cajun. She joined the pitching rotation with the Colorado Silver Bullets women’s professional baseball team in 1995 and competed with the organization for three years before joining the Long Beach Aces in the Women’s Professional Baseball League as a first baseman and pitcher.
Collegiately at then-USL, Habetz displayed her talents on both the basketball court and softball diamond. She was a 1,000-point performer in basketball and as a member of the softball squad earned third team All-America, All-South Region, All-Louisiana and Academic All-America honors. In 1993, Habetz and the Ragin' Cajuns made it all the way to the Women's College World Series.
As a high schooler in Crowley, she became the first female in the state of Louisiana to play high school baseball, earning All-District honors at Notre Dame High School while earning all-state honors as a basketball player. Habetz also excelled in the classroom, representing the NDHS Class of 1990 as its salutatorian.
Habetz was inducted into the University of Louisiana’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003, the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame in 2019.
A 1995 graduate of then-USL, she is the youngest of eight children and the daughter of Leonard and Deanna Habetz of Crowley.
THE HABETZ FILE
Hometown: Crowley, Louisiana
High School: Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish
College: Louisiana, 1995
COACHING TIMELINE
2025-present: Louisiana (Head Coach)
2008-2023: Alabama (Associate Head Coach)
1999-2007: Alabama (Assistant Coach)
LOUISIANA W-L RECORD
Overall: 29-25 (.537)
Sun Belt: 14-10 (.583)
NCAA Tournament: -
OVERALL COLLEGIATE W-L RECORD
(as assistant and head coach)
Overall: 1,267-380 (.769)
NCAA Tournament: 116-53 (.686)
NCAA POSTSEASON APPEARANCES
Women’s College World Series (14): 2000, 2003, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-16, 2019, 2021, 2023)
NCAA Super Regionals (17): 2005-2019, 2021, 2023
NCAA Tournament Berths (24): 1999-2019, 2021-23
COACHING ACCOLADES
- 61 NFCA All-Americans
- 112 NFCA All-Region awards
- 110 All-SEC honorees
- 4 All-Sun Belt honorees
- 63 Academic All-America honors
- 288 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections
- 1,238 victories and 73 percent winning percentage at Alabama
- 6 SEC regular season titles
- 5 SEC Tournament titles
- 14 Women's College World Series appearances
- 2012 National Champion
- 10 NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors
- 2012 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award
Habetz resumed her coaching career, that includes 25 years of high-achieving success with the University of Alabama’s nationally recognized Crimson Tide softball program, after a brief one-year stay away from the game of softball during the 2024 season.
Prior to stepping in to lead the Ragin' Cajuns, Habetz served first as an assistant coach from 1999-2007 and then as associate head coach from 2008-2023 with the Crimson Tide. Working on Patrick Murphy’s staff, she helped guide Alabama to six SEC regular season titles, five SEC Tournament titles, 14 Women's College World Series appearances and in 2012 the Tide won its first national championship and the first for any Southeastern Conference program.
A native of nearby Crowley, Louisiana, Habetz ascended to the head coach ranks in her hometown area of the Acadiana region. A basketball and softball player for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1990-95, she returned to where her impactful contributions to women’s athletics began.
“I am honored and extremely grateful for the opportunity that Dr. Savoie and Dr. Maggard have provided to lead one of the premiere softball programs in the country at a place I call home, the University of Louisiana,” Habetz said. “This is where my softball journey began and my love for the Ragin’ Cajuns program, its fans, and the community runs deep.
“I am humbled by the opportunity to continue the championship tradition Coach Girouard started many years ago, and I’m equally excited to build a positive team culture that will enable our athletes to thrive both on and off the field.”
Year No. 1 back with her alma mater saw Habetz quickly put her stamp on the program, developing the concept and fundraising to see a locker room renovation begin following the completion of the 2025 season. The work will turn the Ragin' Cajuns team headquarters into a state-of-the-art facility beginning with fall 2025 workouts.
Habetz's debut season as head coach was highlighted by Louisiana repeating as the nation's leader in double plays turned and Emily Smith being named the Sun Belt's Freshman of the Year. Louisiana collected victories over WCWS participant Ole Miss and against Alabama at the Rhoads House, then delivered a gritty end-of-the-season performance winning eight of the last nine SBC games to rise to third place in the league standings.
Habetz placed an added emphasis on the student-athletes themselves, implementing a new Ragin' Cajuns tradition by holding individual Senior Day activities throughout the season.
Her first offseason saw the Homecoming of Kaplan, Louisiana native Kennedy Marceaux who joined the program via the transfer portal. The 2024 Louisiana Gatorade Softball Player of the Year, Marceaux continues her softball career a mere 28 miles from where she grew into a standout in the sport.
After shining on the stage as a student-athlete, Habetz officially entered the collegiate softball coaching ranks on September 21, 1998 by joining Murphy’s staff at Alabama. From that point on, she played a significant role in developing the Tide into one of the nation’s perennial elite.
Working primarily with the Crimson Tide’s outfielders during her tenure in Tuscaloosa, Habetz helped mentor many All-Americans including four-time honorees Kelly Kretschman (1998-2001), Brittany Rogers (2006-09) and Haylie McCleney (2013-16).
In addition to the championships and postseason successes, together Habetz and Murphy directed Alabama to 1,238 victories, a 73 percent winning percentage in SEC play, 61 NFCA All-Americans, 111 NFCA All-South Region awards, 110 All-SEC honorees, 63 Academic All-America honors and 288 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections. Their staff was honored as NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year 10 times and captured the 2012 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award.
Prior to beginning her coaching career in collegiate softball, Habetz spent four years in women’s professional baseball following her days as a Ragin’ Cajun. She joined the pitching rotation with the Colorado Silver Bullets women’s professional baseball team in 1995 and competed with the organization for three years before joining the Long Beach Aces in the Women’s Professional Baseball League as a first baseman and pitcher.
Collegiately at then-USL, Habetz displayed her talents on both the basketball court and softball diamond. She was a 1,000-point performer in basketball and as a member of the softball squad earned third team All-America, All-South Region, All-Louisiana and Academic All-America honors. In 1993, Habetz and the Ragin' Cajuns made it all the way to the Women's College World Series.
As a high schooler in Crowley, she became the first female in the state of Louisiana to play high school baseball, earning All-District honors at Notre Dame High School while earning all-state honors as a basketball player. Habetz also excelled in the classroom, representing the NDHS Class of 1990 as its salutatorian.
Habetz was inducted into the University of Louisiana’s Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003, the Louisiana High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006 and the West Alabama Softball Hall of Fame in 2019.
A 1995 graduate of then-USL, she is the youngest of eight children and the daughter of Leonard and Deanna Habetz of Crowley.
THE HABETZ FILE
Hometown: Crowley, Louisiana
High School: Notre Dame High School of Acadia Parish
College: Louisiana, 1995
COACHING TIMELINE
2025-present: Louisiana (Head Coach)
2008-2023: Alabama (Associate Head Coach)
1999-2007: Alabama (Assistant Coach)
LOUISIANA W-L RECORD
Overall: 29-25 (.537)
Sun Belt: 14-10 (.583)
NCAA Tournament: -
OVERALL COLLEGIATE W-L RECORD
(as assistant and head coach)
Overall: 1,267-380 (.769)
NCAA Tournament: 116-53 (.686)
NCAA POSTSEASON APPEARANCES
Women’s College World Series (14): 2000, 2003, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-16, 2019, 2021, 2023)
NCAA Super Regionals (17): 2005-2019, 2021, 2023
NCAA Tournament Berths (24): 1999-2019, 2021-23
COACHING ACCOLADES
- 61 NFCA All-Americans
- 112 NFCA All-Region awards
- 110 All-SEC honorees
- 4 All-Sun Belt honorees
- 63 Academic All-America honors
- 288 SEC Academic Honor Roll selections
- 1,238 victories and 73 percent winning percentage at Alabama
- 6 SEC regular season titles
- 5 SEC Tournament titles
- 14 Women's College World Series appearances
- 2012 National Champion
- 10 NFCA South Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors
- 2012 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award
Inside Louisiana Athletics Recap for Sep 3, 2025 to Sep 9, 2025
Tuesday, September 09
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Monday, September 08
Kristi Gray Media Availability (Sep 8, 2025)
Monday, September 08
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Monday, September 08
