Division I · Sun Belt Conference
The University of Southern Mississippi Softball
Hattiesburg, MS · the Golden Eagles · The University of Southern Mississippi overview
30
Roster
5 over the D-I cap of 25
$958k
Team budget
41st percentile in Division I
$31,923
Per roster spot
median $46,727
5
Coaches
1 head · 4 assistant
978
APR
97% of players retained
99%
Admitted
bottom quarter for selectivity
The University of Southern Mississippi fields a softball team in the Sun Belt Conference (NCAA Division I). In 2024–25 the roster carried 30 players, above the median of 23, with 1 head coach and 4 assistants. Team expenses were $957,690, about the median of $1.1M — $31,923 per roster spot, bottom quarter of Division I softball programs. Under the Division I roster cap of 25 in force from 2025-26, that is 5 over — cuts or attrition are likely, though players already on the roster may stay (65 of 305 Division I programs carried more than the cap). The team's multi-year Academic Progress Rate is 978, about the median of 989, with 97% of players retained year to year. The school gave $2,377,988 in athletic aid across its women's teams, about $11,889 per roster spot.
Among Division I softball programs
Where this program sits against its 305 peers (percentile; the tick is the median).
#182Team budgetof 305 · Division I#231Spend per playerof 305 · Division I#11Roster sizeof 305 · Division I#234APRof 305 · Division I
Team budgets across the division
this programevery Division I softball program
Roster sizes (cap 25)
this programevery Division I roster
The program
- Roster30 2024–25 season
- Division I roster cap25 5 over last season
- Coaching staff1 head, 4 assistant
- Team expenses$957,690 for the year
- Operating expenses$260,873 game-day and travel
- Spend per roster spot$31,923 division median $46,727
- Academic Progress Rate978 multi-year; 976 latest
- Players retained97% year to year
- Eligible99% of player-terms
- Athletic aid, women's teams$2,377,988 school-wide
- Aid per roster spot$11,889 across women's teams
- Recruiting spend, women's$229,922 school-wide
Coaching staff
| Name | Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Natalie Poole head coach | Head Coach | On file · sign in |
| Matt Elzey | Assistant Coach / Recruiting Coordinator / Offensive Coach | On file · sign in |
| Caleb Toshcoff | Assistant Coach | On file · sign in |
| Megan Griffith | Assistant Coach | not on file |
Put The University of Southern Mississippi on a target list, address the whole staff at once, and send each email yourself from Gmail — nothing goes out without you pressing Send.Start your board
Recruiting timing
- Coaches may first contact youSeptember 1 of junior year
- Your own emailsAny time the rule limits what coaches send back
- High-school softball players338,315 2024-25
- Division I roster spots7,038 305 programs
- Odds of a spot1 in 48 2.1% of high-school players hold a Division I roster spot
General NCAA rule for Division I; the softball recruiting guide has the date for each grad year, the eligibility checklist and what to put in a first email.
About the school
What an athlete asks first — each panel opens the full picture.Campus
Full picture →10,012undergraduates · 13,110 students in all
Women 64% Men 36%
- Setting
- City
- Type
- Public · Research university
- Affiliation
- None
Getting in
Full picture →99%admitted · of 8,818 applicants
ACT middle 50%19 – 27
- Test scores
- Scores required
- Graduate in 6 yrs
- 51%
Softball
Full picture →30on the roster · 2024–25 season
Roster vs the D-I cap of 2530
5 over — players already on the roster may stay
Academic Progress Rate978
97% of players kept year to year
- Team expenses
- $957,690 $31,923 per roster spot · lower half of Division I
- Coaches
- 1 head · 4 assistant
- Athletic aid, women's teams
- $2,377,988
- Recruiting spend, women's
- $229,922
Cost
Full picture →$14,050net price · after grants, aided first-years
Net price by family income
- Tuition & fees
- $9,618 in-state · $11,618 out
Campus safety
Full picture →0.23violent offences per 1,000 · students a year, 2022–2024
- In residence halls
- 3 burglaries · 3 sex offences over 2022–2024
- Residence-hall fires
- 0 over 2022–2024
Majors
Full picture →17%of bachelor's degrees in business · 26 fields · Bachelor's, Doctorate, Master's
Research The University of Southern Mississippi
School pages built around what an athlete needs to know — the program's money and roster room, admissions fit, what a family really pays, majors, campus life and safety.
Softball program30 on the rosterPeers, percentiles, nearby programs, comparisonsRankingsWhere it standsEvery list this school is on, nationally and in its divisionAdmissions99% admittedSAT/ACT ladders, test policy, graduationCost & aid$14,050 net priceSticker vs net price by family income, athletic aidMajorsBusiness · 17%Every field and program with degrees awardedCampusCity · 10,012Setting, who is on campus, housing costs, servicesCampus safety0.23 violent / 1,000Three years of reported offences against the divisionAthleticsEvery teamThe whole department: every team, staff and aid
Softball programs within 150 miles
| School | Miles | Roster | Budget | APR | Admitted | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of South Alabama Division I · Sun Belt Conference | 81 | 26 | $1.5M | 990 | 65% | |
| Spring Hill College Division II · Southern Intercol. Ath. Conf. | 83 | 21 | $327k | — | 59% | |
| Belhaven University Division III · Collegiate Conference of the South | 84 | 23 | $296k | — | 53% | |
| Jackson State University Division I · Southwestern Athletic Conf. | 84 | 26 | $440k | 986 | 91% | |
| Millsaps College Division III · Southern Athletic Association | 85 | 18 | $162k | — | 49% | |
| Southeastern Louisiana University Division I · Southland Conference | 88 | 28 | $839k | 979 | 94% | |
| Mississippi Christian University Division II · Gulf South Conference | 91 | 18 | $645k | — | 49% | |
| University of West Alabama Division II · Gulf South Conference | 110 | 23 | $664k | — | 87% | |
| Alcorn State University Division I · Southwestern Athletic Conf. | 113 | 22 | $397k | 972 | 25% | |
| Southern University, Baton Rouge Division I · Southwestern Athletic Conf. | 123 | 27 | $449k | 963 | 50% | |
| Louisiana State University Division I · Southeastern Conference | 126 | 26 | $3.8M | 982 | 74% | |
| University of West Florida Division I · Atlantic Sun Conference | 136 | 23 | $545k | — | 57% |
Other softball programs in the Sun Belt Conference
| School | Roster | Budget | Per player | APR | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Louisiana at Lafayette at cap | 25 | $2.1M | $84,202 | 984 | vs | |
| James Madison University at cap | 25 | $1.9M | $76,949 | 980 | vs | |
| Coastal Carolina University room for 1 | 24 | $1.6M | $67,139 | 992 | vs | |
| University of South Alabama 1 over cap | 26 | $1.5M | $57,925 | 990 | vs | |
| Marshall University room for 2 | 23 | $1.5M | $63,930 | 997 | vs | |
| Georgia State University room for 1 | 24 | $1.1M | $46,093 | 981 | vs | |
| Appalachian State University at cap | 25 | $1.1M | $44,123 | 973 | vs | |
| Troy University 4 over cap | 29 | $1.1M | $37,922 | 1000 | vs | |
| Louisiana Tech University room for 4 | 21 | $1M | $48,555 | 971 | vs | |
| The University of Southern Mississippi 5 over cap | 30 | $958k | $31,923 | 978 | vs | |
| Georgia Southern University room for 5 | 20 | $905k | $45,239 | 993 | vs | |
| University of Louisiana Monroe room for 4 | 21 | $903k | $42,980 | 987 | vs |
Every Sun Belt Conference softball program · Softball budgets ranked