RUSTON — Ruston High School has named Bryan Chrislip as its new head softball coach, Principal Dan Gressett confirmed Tuesday.
Matt Belinson of the Ruston Daily Leader was the first to break the story.
Gressett said Chrislip emerged as the top candidate after conversations with coaches throughout the area during the search process.
“In conversations I had with coaches around the area Bryan’s name kept coming up,” Gressett said. “I reached out to him and (Athletics Director) Coach Jerrod Baugh and I met with him a few weeks ago. (New Principal) Mrs. Teri Howe then met with him, and we decided he was the person for the job.”
Chrislip takes over a Ruston softball program that Gressett said carries high expectations.
“The expectations at RHS are very high and I expect him to jump right in and get to work,” Gressett said. “He has a passion for the game and for coaching.”
Gressett also thanked former coach Lauren Garvie for her work with the Lady Bearcats program. After being hired in 2023, Garvie’s teams made the playoffs in two season. She let Gressett and the team know that she would be stepping down and returning to Texas to be closer to family.
“We do appreciate everything Lauren did for us in her time at RHS,” Gressett said. “We are in a much better place than we were when we hired her. But we are excited to see what Coach Chrislip brings to our program and to RHS.”
