Coaches

Brad Huskisson

Brad Huskisson begins his 17th year as the head coach of the Cougar softball team and 19th year overall at Columbus State University in the 2023-24 year. He served as interim head coach during the 2009 season and was the top assistant in the years prior.


The Columbus State softball all-time leader in victories, Huskisson has built the Lady Cougar softball program into one of the top in the Peach Belt Conference. His teams built on toughness, intensity and determination have become a force in the Southeast Region.


The 2023 season was one of the best for Huskisson. The Cougars posted a 46-16 record, the second most wins in Columbus State softball history, while going 23-0 at Cougar Field. The team won the PBC Regular-Season Championship and hosted the PBC Tournament in Columbus. They were Runner-Ups in the PBC Tournament and in the NCAA DII Southeast Regional. The Cougars broke many records in 2023, including a CSU and PBC home run record of 101 in a season. CSU pitcher and DP legend, Hannah Rose Corbin, tied the most home runs in a season record with 23, the all-time CSU home run record and the most walks in a season for CSU and the PBC. Inside the circle, Corbin was led by Huskisson to be a two-time (back-to-back) PBC Pitcher of the Year, breaking the CSU record of most strikeouts.


In 2012 and 2013, Huskisson had his finest moments while in charge of the CSU softball program leading the Lady Cougars to the NCAA Tournament after storming to the PBC Tournament crown for two consecutive seasons.


In the 2012 PBC Tournament, hosted by CSU at Cougar Field, the Lady Cougars became the first team in PBC Tournament history to win every game in the tournament as the lowest seed in each matchup. CSU entered the tournament as the fifth seed and proceeded to take down fourth seeded Flagler, regular season champions Armstrong Atlantic State University and three-time defending PBC Tournament champions North Georgia in the championship game.


Entering the NCAA Tournament on a seven-game winning streak, the Lady Cougars defeated Augusta State 2-1 in the opening round of the Southeast Regional. After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against North Georgia, Augusta State eliminated Columbus State from the tournament. CSU ended the season with a 40-20 record, the sixth-most wins in program history.


As the fourth seed in 2013, the Lady Cougars took down PBC Tournament host Flagler in the opening round, knocked off top-seeded Armstrong in the semifinals and routed Georgia College for a second consecutive tournament championship. The 12 runs scored by the Lady Cougars set a new PBC Tournament championship game record. CSU outscored its opponents 21-1 over the three-game tournament.


After rolling through the conference tournament, the Lady Cougars defeated Mount Olive 8-2 to open up the Southeast Regional. Columbus State then bested Armstrong for a second straight time the following day, but Armstrong dropped the Lady Cougars twice in the finals to end CSU’s season at 41-18.


The 2014 team continued the program's winning tradition in the PBC Tournament advancing to the championship game as the sixth seed. The final was cancelled due to rain keeping the Lady Cougars from an opportunity at a third consecutive championship.


Predicated on hitting the long ball, Huskisson’s teams led the PBC in home runs in 2012 and 2013. The 2012 team broke several school records including home runs by a team as the Lady Cougars sent 69 balls over the fence. The 69 home runs also broke the single-season Peach Belt Conference record.


In 2014, the Lady Cougars established a new program-best mark with 74 home runs. Nine of the top-11 individual single-season home run totals in CSU history have happened under Huskisson’s watch.


Huskisson became CSU softball's all-time leader in victories on April 21, 2018 in a 10-4 victory over Francis Marion. The win was the 319th of his career, passing his predecessor Tiffany Tootle on the all-time leaderboard.


As head coach, Huskisson has coached 28 All-Peach Belt Conference athletes in just 10 full seasons. In 2012, he coached his first NFCA All-American in Casey Googe followed by Mollie Russell in 2013.


He spent five years as the head coach at Brescia University in Kentucky prior to his arrival at CSU. While at Brescia, Huskisson took a losing program and earned conference, regional, and national attention winning 153 games in his five seasons. His first year was the only losing season he had while at Brescia. The 2004 season marked success when he led the Lady Bearcats to a 44-22 record, winning the KIAC regular season championship, the Region XII Tournament, and finishing ninth at the NAIA World Series. His 2005 squad posted a 29-16 slate and won its third-straight KIAC championship, along with the league tournament. Huskisson developed one All-America player, 13 All-Region players, and 49 All-Conference performers during his tenure at Brescia. He also produced 23 Academic All-America performers, over 100 Dean's List students and was named Region XII Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004.


Huskisson is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and, in addition to his collegiate coaching experience, has coached at the middle and high school levels. He hosts an annual Nike Softball Camp each summer bringing softball talent from around the southeast to Columbus, in addition to serving as a speaker at camps and clinics across the region.


He resides in Columbus with his wife Robin, who is a nurse manager at Columbus Regional Healthcare. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs.