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Head Coach Mike Smith Announces Addition to Softball Staff
Photo courtesy of Robert Jordan / Ole Miss Communications
Ole Miss head softball coach Mike Smith announced the addition of volunteer assistant Katie Rietkovich to his staff Friday.
The Savannah, Georgia native and former Georgia Bulldog comes to Ole Miss from Savannah State where she was an assistant coach for one season under head coach Jose Gonzalez.
“Her mind is unbelievable for being as young as she is,” Smith said. “She knows every facet of the game from base running, to picking signs and pitching and catching. She’s a competitor who doesn’t want to lose and that’s exciting when you have someone like that on your staff.”
“Being able to have someone with the experience Katie has for as young as she is, is unbelievable for us. We are fortunate to have her at Ole Miss,” Smith added.
Rietkovich is excited to join the staff at Ole Miss in year two of the Mike Smith era.
“I’m so thankful to be here and finally be back in the SEC,” Reitkovich said. “I’ve played in regionals, super regionals and the World Series. I understand what it takes to get there and I plan to bring that detail of this game with me in my coaching.”
Rietkovich made a few stops during her playing career starting at Georgia under head coach Lou Champer where was a part of the Bulldogs third-place finish at the 2010 Women’s College World Series. After her stint at Georgia she played in the NAIA at both South Carolina-Beaufort and Reinhardt University.
In addition to her WCWS trip, she was a part of trips to two NCAA regionals, two NCAA Super Regionals and an NAIA postseason run. Reitkovich also earned awards for her work in the classroom racking up NAIA scholar-athlete honors; SEC academic honor roll honors while appearing on both the Dean’s and President’s list academically.
The Rietkovichs are an athletic family, as her dad Ty played football at South Carolina in the 80s and her sister is currently a cheerleader for the Gamecocks. Her father is currently the head softball coach at South Carolina-Beaufort.
“I had the opportunity to play for my dad at the collegiate level and that was a big deal for me,” Reitkovich said. “To learn from him and get that championship mentality was awesome.”
Rietkovich earned a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management from USCB in December of 2015.
Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information
| Mon, Nov 4 |  | vs Long Island University | W, 90-60 |
| Fri, Nov 8 |  | vs Grambling | W, 66-64 |
| Tue, Nov 12 |  | vs South Alabama | W, 64-54 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Colorado State | W, 84-69 |
| Thu, Nov 21 |  | vs Oral Roberts | L, 100-68 |
| Thu, Nov 28 |  | vs BYU | W, 96-85 OT |
| Fri, Nov 29 |  | vs 13 Purdue | L, 80-78 |
| Tue, Dec 3 |  | @ Louisville | W, 86-63 |
| Sat, Dec 7 |  | vs Lindenwood | W, 86-53 |
| Sat, Dec 14 |  | vs Southern Miss | W, 77-46 |
| Tue, Dec 17 |  | vs Southern | W, 74-61 |
| Sat, Dec 21 |  | vs Queens University | W, 80-62 |
| Sat, Dec 28 |  | @ Memphis | L, 87-70 |
| Sat, Jan 4 |  | vs Georgia | W, 63-51 |
| Wed, Jan 8 |  | @ 23 Arkansas | W, 73-66 |
| Sat, Jan 11 |  | vs LSU | W, 77-65 |
| Tue, Jan 14 |  | @ 5 Alabama | W, 74-64 |
| Sat, Jan 18 |  | @ 17 Mississippi State | L, 81-84 |
| Wed, Jan 22 |  | vs 13 Texas A&M | L, 62-63 |
| Sat, Jan 25 |  | @ Missouri | L, 83-75 |
| Wed, Jan 29 |  | vs Texas | W, 72-69 |
| Sat, Feb 1 |  | vs 2 Auburn | L, 92-82 |
| Tue, Feb 4 |  | vs 10 Kentucky | W, 98-84 |
| Sat, Feb 8 | | @ LSU | 7:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 12 |  | @ South Carolina | 6:00 PM SECN |
| Sat, Feb 15 | | vs 17 Mississippi State | 5:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Feb 22 |  | @ Vanderbilt | 2:30 PM SECN |
| Wed, Feb 26 | | @ 2 Auburn | 6:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 1 |  | vs 12 Oklahoma | 1:00 PM TBA |
| Wed, Mar 5 |  | vs 1 Tennessee | 8:00 PM TBA |
| Sat, Mar 8 |  | @ 6 Florida | 5:00 PM SECN |