Softball | 5/17/2017 4:20:00 PM

STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern University will not renew the contract of Eagle softball coach Annie Smith for the 2018 season, Athletic Director Tom Kleinlein announced Wednesday.

"I appreciate the effort of Annie Smith over the past six seasons with our softball program and want to thank her for leading the Eagles," Kleinlein said. "A national search will begin immediately and we are confident that there will be significant interest in our position."

Smith compiled a 176-166 record during her six seasons as head coach at GS. The Eagles finished with a 24-29 overall record in 2017 and placed sixth in the Sun Belt Conference with a 12-15 record, falling in the first round of the conference tournament for the third straight season. Smith's best season came in 2012 - her first season - when the Eagles went 42-20 and won the Southern Conference title.

The athletics department will not make further comments on the search for the next head coach until the process is complete.