As part of the "Stand Beside Her" tour, Coach Brad Huskisson’s Columbus State University softball team will host Team USA on April 3, 2020, at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus.
The Lady Cougars will have the opportunity to take the field against the USA Softball Women's National Team in a doubleheader at the historic complex. The first game will begin at 5 p.m. with the nightcap starting approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
"This is just an unbelievable opportunity, for not only our team, but for Columbus State University and the community," commented CSU head coach Brad Huskisson. "Our players will never forget taking the field against the world's best players, and we are so honored to be chosen for this event."
"Softball has an important place in the city of Columbus, and this once again proves that. I'm so happy that the community will have the chance to come out to South Commons and watch our nation's team in their hometown."
Huskisson is a native of Auburn, a graduate of Logan County High School, and a former member of coaching staffs in both the Russellville and Logan County schools.
The "Stand Beside Her" tour is a way for the USA Softball Women's National Team to prepare for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The "Stand Beside Her" message encourages fans everywhere to stand united in their support of the WNT and the United States in their journey to the Olympic Games. It is also meant to encourage the future generation of female athletes.
"As athletes, we love that the tour allows us the opportunity to visit so many places across the country," said 2020 WNT member Cat Osterman. "Southern hospitality is a real thing, and we received such a warm welcome in Columbus last summer. We are excited to return to the city where Olympic softball started. It's fun to have that history as part of our tour to Tokyo."
The city of Columbus has a storied history with USA softball. The city served as the host site for softball in the 1996 Olympic Games. Earlier this year, international softball returned to the Chattahoochee Valley for the USA Softball International Cup at South Commons.
"It is wonderful that Columbus will again serve as the epicenter for elite softball competition in April 2020," added Columbus State Director of Athletics Todd Reeeser. "We are thrilled that our talented CSU softball student-athletes will have the experience of competing against the best softball players in the world."
Currently, there are nine stops on the "Stand Beside Her" tour hitting seven states and extending from February to June prior to next summer's Olympic Games which begins on July 22.
For more information on the event, please visit TeamUSA.org.
Brad Huskisson is beginning his 11th full year as the head coach of the Lady Cougar softball team and 15th year overall at Columbus State University in the 2019-20 year. He served as interim head coach during the 2009 season and was the top assistant in the years prior.
The Columbus State softball all-time leader in victories, Huskisson has built the Lady Cougar softball program into one of the top in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC). His teams built on toughness, intensity and determination have become a force in the Southeast Region.
In 2012 and 2013, Huskisson had his finest moments while in charge of the CSU softball program leading the Lady Cougars to the NCAA Tournament after storming to the PBC Tournament crown for two consecutive seasons.
In the 2012 PBC Tournament, hosted by CSU at Cougar Field, the Lady Cougars became the first team in PBC Tournament history to win every game in the tournament as the lowest seed in each matchup. CSU entered the tournament as the fifth seed and proceeded to take down fourth seeded Flagler, regular season champions Armstrong Atlantic State University and three-time defending PBC Tournament champions North Georgia in the championship game.
Entering the NCAA Tournament on a seven-game winning streak, the Lady Cougars defeated Augusta State 2-1 in the opening round of the Southeast Regional. After a heartbreaking 2-1 loss against North Georgia, Augusta State eliminated Columbus State from the tournament. CSU ended the season with a 40-20 record, the sixth-most wins in program history.
As the fourth seed in 2013, the Lady Cougars took down PBC Tournament host Flagler in the opening round, knocked off top-seeded Armstrong in the semifinals and routed Georgia College for a second consecutive tournament championship. The 12 runs scored by the Lady Cougars set a new PBC Tournament championship game record. CSU outscored its opponents 21-1 over the three-game tournament.
After rolling through the conference tournament, the Lady Cougars defeated Mount Olive 8-2 to open up the Southeast Regional. Columbus State then bested Armstrong for a second straight time the following day, but Armstrong dropped the Lady Cougars twice in the finals to end CSU’s season at 41-18.
The 2014 team continued the program's winning tradition in the PBC Tournament advancing to the championship game as the sixth seed. The final was cancelled due to rain keeping the Lady Cougars from an opportunity at a third consecutive championship.
Predicated on hitting the long ball, Huskisson’s teams led the PBC in home runs in 2012 and 2013. The 2012 team broke several school records including home runs by a team as the Lady Cougars sent 69 balls over the fence. The 69 home runs also broke the single-season Peach Belt Conference record.
In 2014, the Lady Cougars established a new program-best mark with 74 home runs. Nine of the top-11 individual single-season home run totals in CSU history have happened under Huskisson’s watch.
Huskisson became CSU softball's all-time leader in victories on April 21, 2018 in a 10-4 victory over Francis Marion. The win was the 319th of his career, passing his predecessor, Tiffany Tootle, on the all-time leaderboard.
As head coach, Huskisson has coached 28 All-Peach Belt Conference athletes in just 10 full seasons. In 2012, he coached his first NFCA All-American in Casey Googe followed by Mollie Russell in 2013.
His overall record at Columbus State is 357-252-2 and 125-116-2 in conference play.
He spent five years as the head coach at Brescia University in Kentucky prior to his arrival at CSU. While at Brescia, Huskisson took a losing program and earned conference, regional, and national attention winning 153 games in his five seasons. His first year was the only losing season he had while at Brescia. The 2004 season marked success when he led the Lady Bearcats to a 44-22 record, winning the KIAC regular season championship, the Region XII Tournament, and finishing ninth at the NAIA World Series. His 2005 squad posted a 29-16 slate and won its third-straight KIAC championship, along with the league tournament. Huskisson developed one All-America player, 13 All-Region players, and 49 All-Conference performers during his tenure at Brescia. He also produced 23 Academic All-America performers, over 100 Dean's List students and was named Region XII Coach of the Year in 2003 and 2004.
Huskisson hosts an annual Nike Softball Camp each summer bringing softball talent from around the southeast to Columbus, in addition to serving as a speaker at camps and clinics across the region.
He resides in Columbus with his wife Robin, who is a nurse manager at Columbus Regional Healthcare. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two dogs.