Carpenter added to softball staff

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — University of Arkansas softball head coach Mike Larabee has announced the hiring of assistant coach Sue Carpenter. Prior to coming to Arkansas, Carpenter was an assistant coach under Larabee the previous three seasons at Wright State where she worked with infielders and coordinated camps, recruiting and scouting.“I am thrilled with this opportunity to be coaching at Arkansas,” Carpenter said. “Having worked with Mike the past three years, I consider it quite an honor and quite a compliment that he would consider me to bring along with him. Arkansas is an incredible place, not just the university but the entire community is great. My family had a chance to come visit and they really enjoyed it, too. I’m incredibly excited to get started.”During her three years at Wright State, the Raiders made two NCAA Tournament appearances and won back-to-back Horizon League Tournament titles in 2007 and 2008. Carpenter’s work with the infielders was put on display when Bridget Henry earned the All-Tournament Defensive Award at first base during the Raiders’ 2008 run to the conference tournament title. She also helped guide Jherica Williams to the program’s first Horizon League Player of the Year award, also in 2008. Wright State went on to win 34 games, the second-most in program history, and record a .974 fielding percentage against conference opponents in 2009.“Sue has really been my right hand the last three years,” Larabee said. “With previous experience as a head coach, her mind is always working to stay a couple of steps ahead. She did a great job with the infielders at Wright State and she’ll continue those duties here. She is incredibly personable which make her an outstanding recruiter. In addition to her coaching abilities, Sue will be a great role model for our student-athletes.”

Carpenter served as the head coach at Cedarville University for seven seasons (2000-06) prior to joining the Wright State staff. She led the Lady Jacket softball team to four appearances in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Tournament and three appearances in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Region IX Tournament. In 2000, Cedarville were the NCCAA Midwest Region champions. Coaching at her alma mater, Carpenter was a three-year letterwinner (1984-86) during her collegiate playing career. She was a member of the program’s inaugural fast-pitch team in 1985 and was an All-Western Buckeye Collegiate Conference and All-NAIA District 22 shortstop during the 1986 season.She began her coaching career as an assistant at Cedarville (1987-89) and later spent five years on the coaching staff at Colville High School in Washington.