(Story courtesy of Centenary College Sports Information)

SHREVEPORT, LA – Centenary College Director of Athletics and Wellness Ronda Seagraves is pleased to announce Mark Suire as the Ladies new softball coach for the 2016 season.

“I am excited to announce Mark Suire as the new head softball coach and welcome him into the Centenary family,” said Seagraves. “Mark’s athletic success, experience, and knowledge of Louisiana softball  set him apart in the search process. He is the ideal leader to elevate the program and he has proven he can win and build successful programs that compete at the highest level.”

Suire joins the Centenary athletic family after more than 23 years of teaching and coaching at the high school level in Louisiana. Most recently from 2013-2015, he served as a teacher and softball coach at Catholic High School in New Iberia. Suire guided the Panthers to the State Playoffs the past two seasons, including a berth in the Regional Playoffs in 2015.

“I am honored to be named the next softball coach at Centenary College. I would like to thank President Rowe and Director of Athletics Ronda Seagraves for the opportunity to lead the Centenary program,” said Suire. “I am excited to begin working toward a successful future."

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 1992, Suire began his career with stints at Catholic High School (1992-1993) and St. Edmund High School (1993-1995) as a teacher and coach in football, basketball, and baseball. In 1995, he took over a softball program at Abbeville High School that had only one win in the two previous seasons. In just three years as head coach, Suire led the Wildcats to the Quarterfinals of the State Tournament for the first time in school history.

Suire served as a teacher and the softball coach at Delcambre High School from 2001-2013. After taking over a program in the second year of existence, he tallied a 227-101 record in 12 seasons with the Panthers, including five State Semifinal Appearances and a State Championship. From 2006-2010, his teams at Delcambre High School won more postseason games (17) than any program in Louisiana.

During his high school coaching career, Suire helped implement policies and procedural guidelines to ensure academic and athletic success for his teams. Numerous players under his guidance went on to participate in collegiate softball and even received athletic scholarship offers. He also served as President of the Louisiana Softball Coaches Association from 2011-2013.

Added Suire, “There is a lot of work to be done, but I am confident that with the student-athletes in the Ladies' softball program, we can achieve a level of success that will be a source of pride for the Centenary College family."