CARBONDALE, Ill. – Softball head coach Jen Sewell has announced the hiring of Laurin Watts as the program’s pitching coach.
“We have been anticipating this big announcement for a while now and I’m so glad we were able to get Laurin on board with us here at Saluki Softball,” Sewell said. “Laurin is one of the top up-and-coming pitching coaches in the country. Her name just kept coming up every time I asked about who is the next big pitching hire.”
Watts comes to Southern Illinois after spending the previous five seasons at Southern Utah. In the fall of 2023, Watts was promoted to Associate Head Coach of the Thunderbirds.
During her time in Cedar City, Watts worked with both the pitching and catching staffs, and also served as the program’s lead recruiter.
“Laurin is not only known for her pitching knowledge but also is a big-time recruiter,” Sewell said. “We were looking for someone who could continue to bring the top pitchers here to SIU. Most importantly, though, her reputation as a player’s coach really stood out, everyone in the pitching world talks about her ability to adapt to and connect with each athlete in her bullpen. Laurin is a big win for Saluki Softball and we are excited to get her on the road this week and see her work this fall with a young pitching staff.”
Before arriving at Southern Utah, Watts was the head softball coach and department head of the physical education department at Prattville High School in Alabama. There, Watts’ team won two-straight area championships and made back-to-back regional appearances in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, the program also reached the state championship tournament.
Prior to Prattville, Watts was in Pinson, Alabama, as the head coach at Pinson Valley High School. Her team won two consecutive championships in 2015 and 2016, and made three regional appearances in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Watts has also gathered experience as a regular camp counselor at Mississippi State University’s Hail State Softball Camp.
As a student-athlete, Watts played softball at Adelphi University in New York from 2010 to 2013. During her time as a Panther, Watts was a two-time NE-10 Pitcher of the Week, made the NE-10 Third Team All-Conference in 2013, and was named to the NE-10 All-Tournament Team. Watts graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education in 2013.
Watts is from Birmingham, Alabama.