Delta State University

Highway #8 Cleveland, MS 38733

Division 2 Mississippi Southeast

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Casey Bourgoyne-Charles

Casey Bourgoyne-Charles is now in her 12th season as head coach of the Delta State softball program. Bourgoyne-Charles has posted a 284-300 mark in her tenure at DSU.

In 2018, she led the Lady Statesmen to a 26-25 record. The Lady Statesmen earned two sweeps in GSC play, defeating CBU and Shorter in back to back series. The team finished 15-13 in GSC play which gave them a plus .500 record in conference play for the second time in three seasons.

In 2017, she led the Lady Statesmen to the program's first three-game sweep against Valdosta State University in school history. She earned her 100th win on University Field with Delta State's 2-1 win against Union University on March 4. The Lady Statesmen finished the season 21-25 overall and 14-19 in GSC play.

In 2016, she guided the Lady Statesmen to one of their most successful seasons in school history. The Lady Statesmen went 34-20 last season, the most wins in a season since 2008 and the most wins of Charles' career. Delta State's 12-0 start in GSC play last season was the best since the Lady Statesmen won 11 straight in 2004. Charles also led Delta State to its first NFCA Top 25 ranking in school history, after the Lady Statesmen took two-of-three from then No. 3 Alabama Huntsville.

In 2014, Charles guided DSU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002, Charles' senior season. Delta State earned the No. 7 seed and posted a 1-2 record at the Tampa super regional, a win over Palm Beach Atlantic and two losses to No. 2 Tampa.

Under the leadership of Charles, Lady Statesmen have been named All-Gulf South Conference 23 different times and All-South Region on 11 occasions.

In 2012, the Lady Statesmen, had one of their best seasons under Charles, defeating No. 1 Valdosta State on April 22, ending a Gulf South Conference record 36 game winning-streak. The victory over what proved to be the NCAA Division II National Champions was the 100th career victory for Charles. DSU also advanced to its first Gulf South Conference Championship game since 2006, using dramatic victories over West Alabama, West Florida and Alabama Huntsville.

As one of the top shortstops in the Gulf South Conference from 1999-2002, Casey Bourgoyne-Charles made all the plays for the Lady Statesmen. As of July 1, 2008, the three-time All-GSC standout was hired upon to call them. Her hiring also had historical implications, as she became the first female head coach and the first former Lady Statesmen to lead the program in Delta State softball history.

After completing an outstanding four-year career with the Lady Statesmen, Bourgoyne-Charles began her coaching career as a graduate assistant for former coach David Kuhn in 2003. After two successful seasons as a graduate assistant, she moved to the University of North Alabama where she spent four seasons as the primary assistant to head coach Jeremy Reece.

While at UNA, the Lions posted a 136-82 record and returned to postseason play for the first time since 2000. In 2005, Bourgoyne-Charles helped guide UNA to a 36-20 finish and a trip to the GSC Tournament. One year later, North Alabama went 40-20 and advanced all the way to the NCAA South Region Tournament in Lakeland, Fla.

Bourgoyne-Charles finished her playing career at Delta State in 2002 after four years at shortstop. When the Walker, La., native put down the glove, she ranked first all-time in GSC history in assists and she also held the record for assists in a single season. She is also a member of a select club of Lady Statesmen who have been named to the All-GSC Team at least three times. In Delta State softball history, only six have accomplished the feat.

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Sarah Gipson

Delta State University head softball Casey Bourgoyne-Charles announced the addition of Sarah Gipson to the coaching staff. Gipson comes to Delta State after coaching at Missouri Western State University.

Gipson's first season saw Missouri Western qualify for the NCAA Central regional. She helped coach MWSU hitters to hit 49 home runs, third most in the MIAA, and fourth best batting average in the MIAA. Gipson worked with the corner infielders as third baseman Katie Klosterman earned MIAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-MIAA and Second-team All-region honors. In her second season, the Griffons of Missouri Western hit another 35 home runs which ranked fourth in the conference and have the fourth most doubles in the MIAA

Gipson played collegiately at Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. At HSU, she had a decorated 2015 season as she was named All-American, All-Region and Great American Conference Player of the Year.

She would finish her career with a .360 batting average, a school record 161 RBI's, 49 doubles and 25 home runs. Gipson earned All-Conference honors each of her seasons as a Reddie. While at Henderson State, she was teammates and later coached by Katey Gorsage.

Prior to coming to Delta State, she coached a season at the University of Texas at Tyler. She has served as the head coach for Evangelical Christian School in Memphis, Tenn. and served as a student assistant for Henderson State where she finished her degree in Sport Management.

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Taylor Johnson

Taylor Johnson joins the Delta State University Softball staff for her first season as a graduate assistant coach.

Johnson. who will assist with coaching the pitching staff, capped off her Delta State career by winning the 2018 Charles S. Kerg Top Female Student Athlete ward. The Long Beach, Miss., native finished her four-year career with a 36-33 record along with 3.71 career ERA, save and 185 strikeouts.

Johnson graduated from Delta State in 2018 with her degree in accounting and is working towards her MBA.

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Carah Nunez

Cara Nunez joins the Delta State University Softball staff for her first season as a graduate assistant coach.

Nunez played two-seasons for the Lady Statesmen after transferring to DSU from San Jacinto Junior College in San Jacinto, Texas. The Tomball, Texas, native played in 97 games, 94 starts,at first base finishing with a .275 average, eight home runs, six doubles and 44 RBIs. As a senior, Nunez ranked third in the Gulf South Conference in putouts, eighth in fielding double plays and eighth in hit by pitch while leading DSU in hit by pitch (8), sac flies (2), fielding percentage (.984), putouts (350) and fielding double plays (8).

Nunez graduated with her degree in exercise science in 2017 and working toward a master's degree in sports management at Delta State.