BROOKINGS — South Dakota State softball head coach Kristina McSweeney announced Wednesday that Chanin Billings (Naudin) has joined her staff ahead of the 2023-24 academic year. Billings began her duties as an assistant coach this week.

“I am beyond excited to add Chanin to our staff,” McSweeney said. “She brings incredible energy and passion to our program. Her incredible work ethic and connections will help bring South Dakota State University softball to a new level. We are very blessed to have her on our staff and be able to have her work with our student-athletes.”

Billings has spent the last six years as the head coach at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, guiding the Division III program. The two years prior she was a member of the Division II Harding University staff which followed a four-year standout career at Kansas.

“I know the athletic department at South Dakota State has been really successful and the softball program has had some really great seasons recently,” Billings said. “I know coach McSweeney and coach Bertke during my time in Arkansas and have built a good relationship with them. It’s a good opportunity for me to be able to work with them as well as help the Jackrabbit program.

“I will be working with the defense primarily. I feel like I’ll pair well with what coach Bertke does handling the offense and coach McSweeney does with the pitching staff. The best part of my game as a student-athlete was my defense, so I want to be able to really improve our players with their fielding and that aspect in their development on the field.”

Billings overhauled the Hardin-Simmons softball program during her tenure in Abilene. The Cowgirls had a 20-win improvement during her second season in charge that saw Billings claim Co-Coaching Staff of the Year honors in the American Southwest Conference in 2019. Over time, Hardin-Simmons drastically improved in every area on the field with the team batting average jumping from .215 to .324 by 2023, while her pitching staff’s ERA decreased from 6.39 to 3.28 this past season.

The Cowgirls completed three consecutive top-three conference finishes which was the program’s best span since 2007. The 2022 season saw Hardin-Simmons earn 29 overall victories, the most for the squad since 2009. The 2023 campaign featured a national ranking as high as 19th, the best ever for Hardin-Simmons softball.

Prior to her leading Hardin-Simmons, Billings spent two years at Harding in Searcy, Arkansas. Her first season was spent as a graduate assistant before being elevated to assistant for the 2017 season. Billings assisted a Harding team that went 58-9 and saw the Bisons rank as high as second in the NFCA Division II Coaches’ poll and No. 1 regional ranking during the season. Harding claimed Great American Conference regular season and conference tournament championships in 2017. The Bisons finished the year at the NCAA Super Regionals and during her two-year span in Searcy were top three among conference members in hitting and fielding.

At each stop, Billings has been involved in nearly aspect of a college softball program which includes tasks in budgeting, travel, fundraising, equipment and in-game tactics of offense and defense.

Billings was a four-year starter at third base for Kansas from 2011-15. She was an All-Big 12 Second Team selection in 2012 for the Jayhawks and was a team captain in 2015. A four-time Academic All-Big 12 recipient, Billings still remains in Kansas’ all-time top 10 in career doubles, home runs and RBIs.

Following her collegiate experience, Billings was a member of the Mexican National Team from 2015-16 making international appearances for Team Mexico in world championship events. A native of Princeton, Texas, Billings served as a clinician and coach for the Texas Glory travel ball club program. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas and also holds a master’s degree from Harding.

Billings replaces Brittany Gomez-Olson who is pursuing opportunities outside of college coaching.