Press release by Louisiana Athletics
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Gerry Glasco announced on Monday (August 7) the hiring of Hunter Veach to serve as an assistant coach on the program’s coaching staff beginning with the 2023-24 academic year.
Veach, who will serve as the Ragin’ Cajuns primary defensive coach, comes to Louisiana after spending the 2023 season as Texas A&M’s director of player development and the previous two seasons as an assistant coach at UAB working alongside defensive specialist Joe Guthrie.
This summer he has worked alongside Glasco on the coaching staff of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF) Smash It Sports Vipers.
“Hunter (Veach) is a tireless, energetic and positive up-and-coming coach who can add momentum to our program,” Glasco said. “I’ve kept an eye on his career since working with him a few months at Auburn.
“He understands technology extremely well,” Glasco added. “And has had unique experiences, including working with the Chinese national team, which have provided him with a vast array of knowledge.”
While at UAB, Veach ran the defense and helped propel the Blazers to their highest winning percentage (.620) since 2015 and second-best conference winning percentage in program history (.750). In 2022, the Blazers proved to be one of the best defensive teams in the country, turning the fifth-most double plays per game (0.55) in Division I while ranking second in Conference USA with 28 double plays.
Veach also assisted in the development of UAB’s Sierra Frazier, who garnered her second-straight all-conference first team nod and an NFCA All-Mideast Region First Team selection in 2022.
“I am beyond excited to join the Ragin’ Cajuns family,” Veach remarked. ”Coach Glasco, the support staff and the athletics administration have established Louisiana as one of the best softball programs in the nation, as well as a serious Women’s College World Series contender.
“I look forward to helping capitalize on the momentum last year’s team brought to the table,” Veach added. “And I’m eagerly awaiting the opportunity to experience the absolute best and passionate fans in all of college softball.”
The softball coaching ledger for Veach dates back to 2013, when he began his involvement with the sport at Auburn University at Montgomery. Over the three-year stint at AUM, he assisted in the team’s efforts in winning two NAIA National Championships (2014 and 2015) over three straight NAIA World Series appearances. Veach helped coach four NAIA All-Americans and tutored Cassie Jones who was named the 2015 NAIA Player of the Year.
Veach moved on to the Division I ranks at Auburn University where he was a volunteer assistant in 2016 when the Tigers collected 58 wins and finished as the runner-up at the Women’s College World Series. He was promoted to assistant coach for the 2017 campaign, working with the program’s pitching staff and helping the team to an NCAA Regional title.
Prior to returning to the collegiate game in October 2020 at UAB, Veach worked in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league and overseas with the Chinese national team.
He served as an assistant coach for the NPF’s Cleveland Comets in 2017 and then as head coach of the Beijing Shougang Eagles in the league from 2018-20, managing a 60-player roster while overseeing the development of all athletes.
He also served as the head coach for the Chinese women’s national team until 2021, which was the largest softball operation in China. He traveled abroad to various countries with Team China, competing in tournaments in Australia, Indonesia and China while winning bronze, silver, and gold medals during international competition.
A native of Selma, Alabama, Veach graduated from Auburn in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in sports coach and sports communication.