Lu Harris-Champer

Lu Harris-Champer
Biographical details
Born (1967-06-16) June 16, 1967 (age 57)
San Diego, California
Alma materWestern Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1992–1996Western Illinois (asst.)
1996–1997Nicholls State
1998–2000Southern Miss
2001–2021Georgia
Head coaching record
Overall1163–429–1 (.730)
Tournaments85–51 (.625)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As a Head Coach:
  • Southland Regular Season Champions (1996)
  • 2× Southland Tournament Champions (1996, 1997)
  • Conference USA Regular Season Champions (2000)
  • Conference USA Tournament Champions (2000)
  • 2× SEC Regular Season Champions (2003, 2005)
  • 3× SEC Eastern Division Champions (2003, 2005, 2006)
  • SEC tournament Champions (2014)

As an Assistant:

  • Gateway Tournament Champions (1992)
  • Mid Continent Regular Season Champions (1993)
  • Mid Continent Tournament Champions (1993)
  • Mid Continent West Division Champions (1996)
Awards
  • 3× SEC Coach of the Year (2003, 2005, 2018)
  • NFCA South Region Coach of the Year (1996, 1999)
  • Southland Coach of the Year (1996)

Lu Harris-Champer (born June 16, 1967) is a former American softball coach who most recently served as the head coach at Georgia.[1]

Early life and education

Lu Harris-Champer was born in San Diego, California on June 16, 1967. She would later go on to graduate from Western Illinois University.

Coaching career

Nicholls State

At Nicholls State, Harris-Champer had an overall record of 90–40–1 (.691) in her two years as head coach from 1996 to 1997.

Southern Miss

At Southern Miss, Harris-Champer had an overall record of 115–22 (.839) in her two years as head coach from 1999 to 2000.

Georgia

Harris-Champer has been the head softball coach of the Georgia Bulldogs softball team since 2001. On June 6, 2021, Harris-Champer announced her retirement. During her career at Georgia, she led the team to 959 victories, two Southeastern Conference championships (2003, 2005), one SEC Tournament title (2014), 19-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 Super Regionals, and five trips to the Women's College World Series, including final four appearances in 2009 and 2010.[2]

Personal life

Lu is married to her husband Jerry, they have twin daughters, Jenna and Emma, and another daughter named Mya.[3]

Head coaching record

College

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Nicholls State Colonels (Southland Conference) (1996–1997)
1996 Nicholls State 42–17–1 19–5 1st NCAA Regional
1997 Nicholls State 48–23 16–7 2nd NCAA Regional
Nicholls State: 90–40–1 (.691) 35–12 (.745)
Southern Miss Golden Eagles (Conference USA) (1998–2000)
1998 Southern Miss No team
1999 Southern Miss 51–9 Women's College World Series
2000 Southern Miss 63–13 16–1 1st Women's College World Series
Southern Miss: 114–22 (.838) 16–1 (.941)
Georgia Bulldogs (Southeastern Conference) (2001–Present)
2001 Georgia 33–26 9–18 4th (East)
2002 Georgia 59–17 18–12 2nd (East) NCAA Regional
2003 Georgia 57–14 23–6 1st (East) NCAA Regional
2004 Georgia 55–17 20–10 2nd (East) NCAA Regional
2005 Georgia 55–15 26–4 1st (East) Athens Super Regional
2006 Georgia 54–15 24–6 1st (East) Athens Regional
2007 Georgia 46–28 13–15 3rd (East) Lincoln Regional
2008 Georgia 46–24 14–14 3rd (East) Los Angeles Super Regional
2009 Georgia 47–12 18–7 2nd (East) Women's College World Series
2010 Georgia 50–13 18–8 2nd (East) Women's College World Series
2011 Georgia 51–14 17–9 3rd (East) Athens Super Regional
2012 Georgia 45–17 17–11 3rd (East) Knoxville Super Regional
2013 Georgia 40–21 14–9 4th (East) Tempe Regional
2014 Georgia 49–15 15–9 T-3rd Athens Super Regional
2015 Georgia 44–17 14–9 6th Ann Arbor Super Regional
2016 Georgia 46–20 12–12 8th Women's College World Series
2017 Georgia 35–23 6–18 13th Tallahassee Regional
2018 Georgia 48–13 16–8 2nd Women's College World Series
2019 Georgia 42–19 12–12 T-6th Minneapolis Regional
2020 Georgia 23–5 2–1 Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Georgia 34–21 7–17 11th Women's College World Series
Georgia: 959–367 (.723) 308–198 (.609)
Total: 1163–429–1 (.730)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ "Lu Harris-Champer". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  2. ^ "Lu Harris-Champer Announces Retirement". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "Lu Harris-Champer". GeorgiaDogs.com. University of Georgia Athletics. Retrieved March 5, 2019.