NATCHITOCHES – First-year head coach Jason Anderson has completed his coaching staff for the 2027 season.
 
Joining the Northwestern State softball staff is assistant coach JT Smith, who finished her stellar playing career at NSU this past season, and Molly Carter, who joins the Demon staff after spending four years with Anderson at Southern Arkansas.
 
"I am extremely excited to add JT and Molly to our staff," Anderson said. "Both of them bring tremendous value to our program and will play pivotal roles in what we are building here. I feel like they are great fits for our staff, our players and the culture. Grateful to have them join the Demon family as we continue to move the program forward."
 
Smith makes the transition from player to coach after completing a standout 2026 season in a Demon uniform.
 
A Southland Conference All-Defensive Team selection in center field, Smith became just the third Northwestern State player in the past 25 seasons to record at least 40 runs, 40 hits, 25 RBIs and 10 stolen bases in a season.
 
Her final collegiate season was the latest chapter in a decorated career that included stops at UT Tyler, Grayson Junior College and Northwestern State.
 
Before coming to Natchitoches, Smith helped UT Tyler win two NCAA Division II national championships and earned unanimous NFCA All-America honors in 2025. She collected six All-America honors during her collegiate career between UT Tyler and Grayson.
 
Smith finished her NCAA career with a .398 batting average and a 1.255 OPS, collecting more than 280 hits and scoring more than 300 runs. She drove in more than 175 runs, recorded 118 extra-base hits and stole 99 bases.
 
"JT has competed and won at a very high level in her career," Anderson said. "She brings a wealth of knowledge and knows how to win.  She will continue to make an impact on our players and the program as a whole."  
 
Carter joins Northwestern State after four seasons on Anderson's staff at Southern Arkansas, where the Muleriders went 170-53 during her tenure.
 
Southern Arkansas won at least 34 games in each of Carter's four seasons, including three campaigns with 40 or more victories. The Muleriders finished 48-9 in 2026, 43-10 in 2025, 34-19 in 2024 and 45-15 in 2023.
 
Carter previously spent the 2022 season at MSU Denver, helping the Roadrunners to a 38-22 record, after beginning her coaching career at her alma mater Columbia College (Mo.). She helped Columbia post a combined 47-9 record in 2020 and 2021.
 
Her coaching success follows an accomplished playing career.
 
Carter helped Columbia make two NAIA World Series appearances, finishing fourth in 2017 and as the national runner-up in 2018. A three-time NAIA All-American and two-time American Midwest Conference Player of the Year, Carter was a dynamic two-way player who excelled both at the plate and in the circle.
 
In 195 career games, Carter hit .435 with 45 home runs and 241 RBIs. She led the NAIA with 87 RBIs in 2017, when she also went 21-6 with a 1.94 ERA in 180.2 innings.
 
"Molly will serve as our Director of Recruiting and Analytics," Anderson said, "an area that is so important in our game.  Her work ethic, attention to detail and understanding of recruiting will be a tremendous asset as we continue to identify and develop the type of players we want at NSU."
 
Also joining the coaching staff is former NSU short stop Keely Dubois, who will serve as a graduate assistant in 2027. Dubois was a three-year starter for head coach Donald Pickett from 2020-23. She finished her career with a .299 batting average and .801 OPS. 
 
She was a two-time academic all-Southland honoree and her 18 doubles in 2023 are tied for the third most in a single season in program history. She also ranks sixth all-time with 245 career assists.
 
Smith, Carter and Dubois join new pitching coach Mandy Jordan and retained assistant coach Paxtyn Hayes to complete the 2027 coaching staff with Anderson.