JOURNAL SPORTS
HAMMOND – LSU Alexandria softball coach Trent Partridge, a former Bossier Parish Community College baseball player, has been named the new head coach at Southeastern Louisiana University, SLU director of athletics Jay Artigues announced Wednesday.
Partridge replaces Rick Fremin, who accepted the associate head coach position at two-time defending national champion Texas last month after a successful 11-year tenure at the helm of the Lion softball program.
Partridge played baseball at BPCC but an injury halted his career and he transferred to complete his education at Northwestern State. He lives in Natchitoches. Artigues was BPCC’s baseball coach from 1999-2001 but did not coach Partridge there.
Southeastern is one of eight Division I softball programs to win 40 or more games for each of the past four seasons and has made three straight NCAA Regional appearances after winning Southland Conference Tournament championships in 2024 and 2025, as well as the league’s regular season title in 2026.
“From the beginning of the search, we wanted to identify a leader who could build on our championship culture of excellence while positioning our program for even greater success,” Artigues said. “Trent Partridge quickly emerged as the leader who embodied that vision.”
Partridge led the Generals to a 147-62 record, a pair of Red River Athletic Conference championships and three straight NAIA Tournament appearances and top-15 finishes in the national rankings during his four-year tenure. The two-time reigning RRAC Coach of the Year, Partridge was the leader of the 2025 NFCA Region I Coaching Staff of the Year.
Under his direction, LSUA has built one of the nation’s most aggressive offenses, leading the nation in stolen bases and ranking in the top 10 nationally in 22 offensive categories over the last two seasons. Partridge’s LSUA teams have included four NAIA All-Americans, 12 all-region selections, three RRAC Players of the Year, one RRAC Pitcher of the Year and 21 All-RRAC honorees.
Before taking over at LSUA, the Florien native spent successful stints as an assistant high school coach at Anacoco (2021-23) and Florien (2012-18).
“Coach Partridge has established himself as one of the brightest rising coaches in the country,” Artigues added. “His success on the field speaks for itself and his deep Louisiana roots will help keep talented local players in-state.”
Partridge is excited about the opportunity to build on the established foundation of success and for he and his wife, Mayson, to become members of the Hammond community.
“The community support and the winning culture within the program are already in place,” Partridge said. “The standard has been established and I’m excited to be able to put my own stamp on the program and enhance the culture that has already been established – to define our standard and the way we want to play the game. This opportunity to take over a top 25 program in my home state is a dream come true and we have a chance to do something really special at Southeastern.
“I’m very thankful to our administration for giving me this chance to lead the SLU softball program,” Partridge added. “I’m also appreciative of LSUA and everything that was done for me there as I got my start in collegiate coaching.”
Partridge has also been involved with the NFCA’s softball coaching mentorship and leadership development groups. One of the nationally respected softball leaders Partridge has collaborated with and studied under through the NFCA program is Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy, who has led the Crimson Tide to 14 Women’s College World Series appearances and the 2012 national championship.
“Trent made a great impression on me as we worked together through the NFCA mentorship program,” Murphy commented. “He’s a forward thinker and in coaching for the right reasons. Trent will continue the winning softball tradition at Southeastern and we will welcome him and the Lions at regionals any year.”