Topic: H-D: Herd softball team showing the way to consistency

[biggreenarms]

Shonda Stanton is Marshall's most successful coach.

There, I said it.

"Oh, there are a lot of successful coaches," protested Marshall's veteran softball coach.

Stanton is right.

But none of them has attained the consistent level of success Stanton has achieved.

That's what makes her special.

Since joining Conference USA in 2005, Marshall has reached 12 league championship contests in seven sports. Football lost to Rice in 2013, men's basketball lost to Memphis in 2012, men's soccer lost to Tulsa in 2009, baseball lost to Houston in 2008 and volleyball defeated Houston in 2005.

Only tennis and softball have reached multiple C-USA championship contests. Tennis made it in 2007, 2008 and 2010, losing to Tulsa each time.

Then, there's softball.

Stanton's team first advanced to the title game in 2006. But, now, MU softball is riding a streak of reaching the championship game for three consecutive seasons -- 2012, 2013 and 2014.

No other Marshall sport has done that.

No other MU coach has accomplished that.

Only one other Herd coach has even won a C-USA championship.

That's why Stanton is Marshall's most successful coach.

"Honestly, it's the student-athletes buying into the system," said Stanton, who has 481 wins in 15 seasons. "And I think the quicker they do, the quicker you will see results.

"We have a system that works. When you have a system in place and it works and the student-athletes commit to it, we'll see results."

Indeed.

That certainly was the case this season when a Marshall team laden with 16 freshmen and sophomores seemed destined for a rebuilding year.

There were no expectations whatsoever.

"Just from us," said Stanton with a smile. "And that's a great place to be in. We all were believers, but everybody else was such doubters early.

"And, then, we started 6-18. ... honestly, as coaches we had to get our kids to believe, too. It's no different than when I told the 2013 team, 'You'll be the best team in Marshall softball history.' They thought I was crazy when we started out 2-7.

"It doesn't matter what I believe. It's when they transition. With this team, it was the same thing. I told them, 'We will get there. I don't know what seed we will be when we get there. We just want to stay off the No. 8 seed because we want to be on the other side of the bracket until the championship game. We don't want to see Tulsa until the finals because then the pressure is on them.'"

Stanton's young team bought in and believed, advancing to the title game before losing to Tulsa, 8-0. The point, however, is Stanton told her players they would get there. ... and they did.

But the real reason for her success?

"I think it goes back to the reason I love being at Marshall," said Stanton. "I believe we are in a position where we can be successful. Sure, do I want my resources? You always do as a coach.

"But I believe we have the necessary resources to be successful. And I believe when we bring a kid on campus, we can sign 'em. It's just getting them here. It's convincing them how special Marshall is.

"But, hands down, our success rate is about attracting great student-athletes. This business is all about relationships. I really believe in our ability to attract great student-athletes."

And I believe in Stanton's ability to coach them.

Marshall is lucky to have Shonda Stanton.

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/marshall/x1315750386/Herd-softball-team-showing-the-way-to-consistency