Ashlee Ducote Season 2023
Former Tiger Ashlee Ducote enters her second season as an assistant coach at LSU. The former two-time First-Team All-America selection at third base brought four years of Southeastern Conference playing experience to the coaching staff and works primarily with the infielders.
In 2002, LSU led the SEC in fielding percentage and ranked 11th nationally with a school-record .971 percentage. Second baseman April Janzen and shortstop Blair Smith each ranked third in the league in fielding percentage at their respective positions and catcher Jennie Reeves ranked fifth.
A member LSU’s first softball team in 16 years in 1997, Ducote was a major factor in the Tigers’ rise to national prominence. While she was at LSU, the Tigers won two SEC Championships, one SEC Tournament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament on three-straight occasions.
In addition to becoming the first Tiger to earn back-to-back First-Team All-America honors in 1999 and 2000, she was named the SEC Player of the Year in 2000, becoming the first Tiger to earn that honor. She was also the Louisiana Player of the Year in 2000 after finishing the season with a school-record .431 batting average. In addition, she was a three-time All-South Region, All-Louisiana and All-SEC selection. She was also a member of the 1999 NCAA Region 5 All-Tournament Team.
“A great Tiger in her own right, Ashlee has always led by quiet example but when she speaks, the players listen,” said Girouard. “She is always there for our student athletes and they know it. She is a great asset because she knows what it takes to win everyday on the field and in life.”
Ducote remains the LSU record holder for career doubles and career batting average. In addition, she holds the school records for hits, doubles, RBIs, batting average and walks in a season. Her career .947 fielding percentage is the fifth-best for a third baseman in SEC history.
Originally from Alexandria, La., Ducote graduated from LSU in the spring of 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology.