It did not take long for Pearl River Community College to find a new coach to lead its reigning national championship-winning softball club. One week after Christie Meeks accepted an assistant role at South Alabama, the Wildcats announced five-time state champion Jake Loper as her replacement.
Loper, a native of Sebastopol, comes to Poplarville as one of Mississippi’s most decorated softball coaches. He most recently served in the high school ranks, where he compiled an eye-popping 118-30 record and three MHSAA Class 4A state championships over four seasons at West Lauderdale. Before that, he led Lake High School to the 2019 Class I Slow-Pitch State Championship with a 32-3 record.
“We’re excited to welcome Coach Loper to Pearl River. He is a proven winner with a track record of success and a passion for developing student-athletes,” Pearl River Athletics Director and head baseball coach Michael Avalon said. “His strong relationships with high school and college coaches throughout the region, along with the respect he has earned in the softball community, make him an outstanding fit for our program.”
Loper will take over a program with high expectations, as it secured its first-ever NJCAA Division II National Championship this past season.
“I am excited to compete at a higher level. It has always been a goal of mine to coach at this level. It’s surreal and incredibly special that I get to start at a place that just won a National Championship,” Loper said. “I love a challenge, and that’s why I am here. I think everyone’s goal should be to go somewhere you have a chance to compete for a National Championship. We don’t see any reason for us to take a step back. We plan to compete for a national title.”
The new head coach believes his experience at the high school scene in Mississippi will give him both a coaching and recruiting advantage. Loper said he has strong connections within the Magnolia State and plans to work tirelessly to fill his rosters with local talent.
“Being at the high school level, I have really strong connections across Mississippi and know the players here incredibly well,” Loper said. “We are absolutely going to recruit Mississippi first. We will keep the best local talent home, add some key out-of-state pieces and put a blue-collar highly competitive product on the field.”