Benton’s Tracey Rambin To Enter LSCA Hall of Fame In May

by Jimmy Watson // Contributing Writer – Shreveport Times

SHREVEPORT — Longtime Benton softball coach Tracey Rambin was struggling to get her team warmed up Friday night for a game against Ruston in chilly, windy conditions when she received a couple of surprises.

Past Louisiana Softball Coaches Association president Wade Strother presented Rambin with a piece of cheesecake and Calvary Baptist assistant coach Greg Frazier joined Strother in telling her she will be inducted in to the LSCA Hall of Fame along with two others later this spring. 

Surrounded by her 2024 players, who were clapping and cheering, Rambin hugged Strother and Frazier saying she was overwhelmed.

“Are you serious? That’s awesome,” Rambin said.

She will be inducted at the LSCA banquet May 11 in Pineville during the LSCA All-Star weekend. Joining Rambin in the 2024 class are former Sacred Heart coach Robert Davenport and former Eunice coach Scott Deshotel, who spent 35 years in education, including 19 at Eunice.

“I met Tracey my first year at Southwood because we played Mansfield in many opening day doubleheader wars forever,” said Strother, now an assistant at North DeSoto. “Her teams were always solid and played the game the right way.”

Frazier said all three of the inductees are solid coaches and deserving of  the HOF selection.

“They’re all ballers,” Frazier said. “They taught all day and coached two-three sports. People don’t do that anymore.”

Rambin, who said she plans to hang up her coaching shoes at the end of this year, began her coaching career 33 years ago at Rusheon Middle School in Bossier City before coaching high school softball at Mansfield, Airline and Benton. She started the volleyball program in Benton and built it into a perennial district title contender, while assisting Michelle Owens in softball. She became the head softball coach a couple of seasons ago.

“Personally, one of my favorite coaches ever – lots of fun times on and off the field and lots of inside jokes and late night talks about softball and life,” said Strother, who teamed with former Northwood coach Greg Swearingen to nominate Rambin.

Heading into this season, Rambin had a 399-229 record with 15 of her teams advancing to the LHSAA playoffs. She has had four quarterfinalist teams, two in the semifinals and one state runner-up. She is a two-time Shreveport Times All-City or All-Area Coach of the Year. 

Rambin has been a member of the LSCA for 27 years serving as president from 2007 to 2009 while contributing three terms on the executive committee. She was the 2007 West All-Star team coach. 

“Tracey has been successful at all three stops of her career and has always been willing to mentor new coaches,” Strother said. “She just does it like it’s supposed to be done.”

Jimmy Watson covers Louisiana sports for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.