Sulphur native and former McNeese State softball player Emily Vincent is returning to Cowgirl Diamond this weekend as pitching coach for UNLV, which will take part in the Evangeline Bank and Trust Invitational along with McNeese, Memphis, Sam Houston State, Texas-Arlington and Manhattan.

Vincent was recruited to McNeese by current Memphis head coach Natalie Poole and served as an assistant under Cowgirls head coach James Landreneau.

“Coach Poole had been watching me and I had been going to camps,” Vincent said of her recruitment. “She brought me on an unofficial visit and I knew that was where I wanted to go. My family would be able to see me, I would be a local person and could influence people that way. I said yes and never looked back.”

At McNeese, Vincent was a two-way star, helping the Cowgirls to three Southland Conference titles. She ranks second in career triples (12), third in RBIs (141), fourth in doubles (43) first in career saves (9) first in single-season saves record (5) and third in career ERA (2.07).

Vincent admitted to not being the most cooperative player when Landreneau was a McNeese assistant.

“I was probably the most stubborn player he ever coached,” she said. “If he would say ‘Don’t do this,’ I would do the opposite. We butted heads almost every day. I thought I knew better.”

Vincent said her playing years at McNeese helped her grow off the field.

“McNeese kicked my butt, but in the best way,” she said. “It taught me some intangible things I probably wouldn’t have learned going to another school. It taught me to be tough, how to be disciplined and matured me. McNeese definitely prepared me for a lot of things in work and life I still use, a lot of life lessons.”

Coaching was never on Vincent’s radar.

“I was playing pro ball with the Texas Charge when Coach Landreneau asked me if I wanted to come on as a volunteer coach,” she said.

“I wanted to go back for my master’s so I said sure. I volunteered there in 2018 and met Coach Kristie Fox at a convention. I had a lot of respect for what she was doing and how she held herself. I wanted to be like that and moved away when the opportunity presented itself.”

Having a chance to impact the lives of players is what Vincent enjoys about her new career.

“My favorite part is the relationships you build,” she said. “I like being with our girls and seeing how we connect on different levels, not just as athletes.”

Landreneau is a big influence on Vincent’s coaching.

“The thing about him is that he will never give up on you no matter what,” she said. “He will always believe in you as a player and even after that. Even now, six years later, he has an open-door policy with me and we can talk about anything. He’ll never give up on you, even if you’re a player that has kind of pushed him to the side and thinks he’s being mean. You can always go to him and he’ll smile and ask if you want to talk about it.”

A chance to reconnect with family highlights the trip home.

“My brother and his wife just had a baby and I get to see my niece for the first time,” Vincent said. “I’ll get to be with my McNeese family and my parents are cooking for us. There’s a lot going on.”

Vincent said softball and family life have always been intertwined.

“I grew up with softball,” she said. “My brothers taught me in the backyard. My dad would catch my pitching lessons and probably has arthritis in his hands from me. It has connected us as a family more than I’d ever expect a sport to do.

“My mom watched every one of my college games. My dad missed two. They (went) to Italy to watch me play there. We’ve traveled the world and bonded over the sport.”

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Thursday’s Games

McNeese vs. Sam Houston St., 6 p.m.

Friday’s Games

Memphis vs. Texas-Arlington 10 a.m.

Manhattan vs. Texas-Arlington, 12:15 p.m.

Manhattan vs. Sam Houston St., 2:30 p.m.

UNVL vs. Sam Houston St., 4:45 p.m.

McNeese vs. UNLV, 7 p.m.

Saturday’s Games

Sam Houston St. vs. Texas-Arlington, 10 a.m.

Sam Houston St. vs. UNLV, 12:15 p.m.

Manhattan vs. Memphis, 2:30 p.m.

McNeese vs. Manhattan College, 4:25 p.m.

McNeese vs. Memphis, 7 p.m.

Sunday’s Games

UNLV vs. Manhattan, 10 a.m.

UNLV vs. Memphis, 12:15 p.m.

McNeese vs. Texas-Arlington, 2:45 p.m.