Lamar University Athletics

Amy Hooks was hired to take over the Lamar University softball program in June 2018. She comes to Beaumont after spending the previous six seasons as an assistant at Northwestern State, where she helped guide the Demons to their best three-year run in program history.

The 2023 season saw the Cardinals win 22 games, marking the most since the 2019 season in their return to the Southland Conference. They also would finish 12-12 in conference play, which was enough for them to get the four seed in the SLC tournament. Along the way, there would be milestones as Aaliyah Ruiz not only set the all-time strikeout record at LU, but also became the first Cardinal to strikeout 300 career batters. Kaylee Ancelot was selected as a second team all-conference batting .316 with 50 hits with 50 hits, six homers, and 35 RBI while Cameron Niedenthal was named part of the SLC All-Tournament team for her performance (.545 (six-of-11) with seven RBI, one 2B, one HR, two runs). The Cardinals reached the conference tournament semifinals with two wins.

In 2022, Lamar won 11 games in their first season in the Western Athletic Conference including five in the conference. Still, the Cardinals were able to qualify for the tournament. 

The 2020 and 2021 seasons dealt with challenges off the field as the 2020 season ended prematurely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, LU produced two National Strength and Conditioning Association All-Americans in Hannah Carpenter and Shannon Klaus. In 2021, Carpenter led the Cardinals with a .339 batting average and 14 RBI while scoring 11 runs and hitting two homers. A year earlier, Klaus produced a season batting .351 with three triples amd two doubles. 

In Hooks' first season at Lamar in 2019, the Cardinals won 23 games, including 14 in the Southland Conference, which got them a spot in the conference tournament. Three players, including Jade Lewis (First Team), Klaus (Second Team), and Shaina Amir (Honorable Mention) were each given all-conference honors with Lewis also earnind SLC Newcomer of the Year. 
 
Hook’s primary focus with the Demons was on player development related to catchers, defense, hitting and the mental aspects of the game. She was also charged with recruiting for the states of Texas, Colorado, California, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Utah.
 
During her time in Natchitoches, La., Hooks played a key role in Northwestern State’s resurgent program beginning in 2013. During that time Northwestern State won a Southland Conference regular-season title, two conference tournament titles and advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2013 and 2014. The Demons finished no worse than second in the league standings, while recording two 30-win seasons and a 40-win campaign. In all, Northwestern State won more than 100 games and posted a .658 winning percentage from 2013-15, which stands as the best three-run in Demons’ history.
 
All totaled, Northwestern State won 93 Southland Conference games during Hooks’ six-year run in Natchitoches while posting a .588 winning percentage.
 
The individual honors received by the Northwestern State players were just as impressive as the team recognition. Hooks helped produce 33 All-Southland Conference honorees, including nine first-team selections, which includes a former league pitcher of the year.
 
The Demons again qualified for the SLC tournament this past season, despite a youthful roster that consisted of 17 freshmen and sophomores and only two seniors.
 
Although spending the previous six years in Louisiana, Hooks is no stranger to softball in the state of Texas. A native of Mesquite, Hooks played her collegiate softball at the University of Texas. A standout for one of the nation’s premier programs, Hooks graduated as the school’s all-time leader in home runs, while finishing second in program history in walks, fifth in runs batted in and sixth in runs scored. She also ranked among the school’s all-time top 10 in games played, started, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
 
A former All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year, Hooks guided the Longhorns to the NCAA Regional Championships all four seasons. Her playing days extended past her collegiate career as she also competed for the NY/NJ Comets and the Carolina Diamonds of the National Pro Fastpitch league.
 
Hooks graduated from Texas with a bachelor of science in December 2011, and has completed work toward a master’s degree.