By TYLER HENRY
Lead Sportswriter - Salina Post
On Thursday, Southeast of Saline officially announced that Tyler Smith would be assuming the head coaching role of the Lady Trojan softball program for the 2025 season.
Smith takes the reigns from Pesha Ptacek, who racked up 247 career wins at SES during her combined 15-year tenure with the purple and white.
In addition to four years of college baseball playing experience at Northwest Oklahoma State (DII) and Bethany College (NAIA), Smith has been in the coaching game for 20 years, serving most recently as an assistant baseball and football coach at Salina South.
Last season, Smith helped lead the Cougar baseball program from a 11-seed at sub-state to a fourth-place finish at state in Class 5A.
“I’m excited to see what I can do in a new role like this,” Smith said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve learned a lot from many great coaches. A lot of great softball coaches get their start in baseball and I have a lot to learn but it’s a challenge I’m excited to take on.”
That excitement is shared by Athletic Director Doug Minneman, who welcomed Smith with open arms this week.
“Tyler is a dynamic leader,” he said. “He just has that personality that people gravitate to and I’m looking forward to seeing him take the reigns of the softball program and lead them. It feels like a great fit for what we’re looking for in a head coach at Southeast of Saline.”
The softball team, which went 21-3 with a trip to state last season, will return a great deal of talent, and should be ready to compete once again when the 2025 season opens this spring.
“Normally coaches don’t leave the cupboards completely full like this,” Smith said. “That had no bearing on my decision, I’m just excited to be a part of this Southeast of Saline community and to be closer to my daughters but having a team with this much talent makes the transition easier.”
In addition to an opportunity to be closer to family, Smith is excited to contribute to the culture of excellence built up over the years in Trojan Country.
“Southeast of Saline has such a great athletics tradition,” he said. “It seems like every program is making runs year in and year out and that’s a culture that’s already been created. We’re not doing everything brand new, Coach Ptacek built this program the right way, and we’ll be continuing to build on that.”