RINGGOLD, Ga. — Melissa Hendon the athlete was a major part of the early success of the fastpitch softball program at Ringgold High School.
As Melissa Seaborn the coach, she hopes to return the Lady Tigers to being consistent winners and contenders for region and state supremacy.
Seaborn was named Tuesday as the next head coach at Ringgold. She replaces Daniel Hackett, who stepped down after eight seasons that included back-to-back GHSA Class AAA state championships in 2019 and 2020.
“It means so much, and I’m so very grateful for the opportunity,” said Seaborn, who has been coaching at Lakeview Middle School. “Getting to experience working with the girls and being a Tiger again is a dream come true.”
Hendon graduated from Ringgold in 2004. She lettered all four seasons for coach Hazel Brown’s team, leading the Lady Tigers to a state runner-up finish her senior season.
She played collegiately at Chattanooga State, where she went 62-9 with a 0.75 ERA, and later at South Carolina, where she won 20 games as the team’s No. 1 pitcher as a junior and ended her two-year stint with 14 shutouts, 422 strikeouts, 49 complete games and seven saves.
Seaborn’s plan at Ringgold, where the team went 10-24 this past season, starts with teaching a young team about the past while also connecting it with the present.
“I want to involve some of our alumni and really get the girls to see how they can contribute to the community and all the great things softball can bring you,” she said. “I remember when I played, every game was a community event. I would love to see that again, for the community to be there for the girls and for the girls to contribute back to the community.
“We love this area. To help try and bring it back and help the kids understand what a rich history we have, would be amazing. It is a long-term plan. We only have one returning senior, so we have a young team that can grow together.”
Part of that growth will include her sister, Brittany, who also starred at Ringgold (as well as Boyd Buchanan) and later at Chattanooga State, along with current assistant coaches Aimee Davidson — another former Lady Tiger — and Katie Thompson.
Seaborn already knows most of the athletes. Her daughter begins high school this fall and plays volleyball and basketball along with several future Ringgold softball players.
“A lot of the girls on the softball team play basketball, so I know them pretty well,” Seaborn said. “To get to coach girls I’ve seen grow up that are my daughter’s edge is pretty special.
“The main thing I want to achieve is to get every single player to realize their potential and that hard work pays off. If you’re the hardest worker out there, your dreams will come true.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.