HAMMOND, La. – The reigning Southland Conference Tournament champion Southeastern Louisiana University softball program has bolstered its coaching staff with the addition of a pair of former Lady Lion standouts, SLU head coach Rick Fremin announced Monday.
 
Kaylan (KK) Ladner and Madison Rayner, a pair of 2023 Southeastern graduates, have both been named assistant coaches. Their hires are pending approval of the University of Louisiana System's Board of Supervisors.
 
Ladner and Rayner will join a Southeastern staff that has enjoyed continuity under Fremin, the 2024 Louisiana Coach of the Year. Alana Fremin will return for her 10^th season as an assistant coach. Katie Godwin will enter her seventh season with the program, but has transitioned from an assistant coach into a new role as Director of Softball Operations.
 
"We've been fortunate to retain the core of our staff over recent years and have only gotten stronger with the addition of two former players," Fremin commented. "Kaylan and Madison did an exceptionable job representing our program as student-athletes and we expect them to do the same in their new roles. Our program is in good hands moving forward."
 
Both Ladner and Rayner transferred to Hammond from Southern Miss and helped the Lady Lions to an 87-30 record in the two seasons they donned the green and gold.
 
In 2022, Rayner, who started all 117 games of her Lady Lion career at second base, hit .327 with five home runs and 44 RBI to go with a team-high 16 doubles and 30 walks. For her efforts, the Stringer, Mississippi native was named second team All-SLC and All-Louisiana following her junior campaign. Last May, she graduated from Southeastern in general studies.
 
Ladner's breakout season with SLU was in 2023. The Kiln, Mississippi native finished 15-2 in her final campaign with a 1.92 earned run average, striking out 147 and holding opponents to a .199 batting average in 127.2 innings pitched on the way to earning All-Southland and All-Louisiana recognition. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology in May 2023.
 
"Madison will work with our infielders and offense, while KK will work with our pitchers," Fremin said. "They both know our system, which will make for a smooth transition as we enter the fall season."
 
Fremin also announced the addition of Schran Ladner, who will join the staff in a player development role. Ladner brings a wealth of experience coaching at the high school and travel ball levels in his native Mississippi.
 
"Schran has a lot of experience in player development and has provided support to our program," Fremin stated. "His expertise and knowledge will benefit our coaches and student-athletes."
 
Southeastern will open its fall exhibition schedule with a 5 p.m. 10-inning exhibition contest versus Northeast Alabama Community College Sept. 27 at North Oak Park. The 2025 regular season will open with SLU traveling to Baton Rouge to compete in the LSU Invitational Feb. 7-9.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on X and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.