Laurie Neelis is in her fourth season as a volunteer assistant with the Southern Miss softball program. Neelis is also an instructor with Southern Miss' School of Heath Performance and Recreation.

Before coming to Southern Miss, Neelis served as the head softball coach at Pearl River Community College from 1997-2002. At PRCC, Neelis helped move the program from slow-pitch style to the fast-pitch game prior to the 2001 season. As the fast-pitch coach, she compiled a 58-61 record in three seasons. Neelis also guided her 2002 team to runner-up finishes in both the MACJC State Tournament and the NJCAA Regional Tournament.

She coached the slow-pitch team from 1997-2000. In 2001 and 2002, Neelis also served as the president of the Softball Association for the MACJC. Prior to heading the Lady Wildcats program, Neelis was an assistant coach with Jones County Junior College.

Neelis earned two letters in softball playing for Alpena College in Alpena, Michigan. Prior to that, Neelis was a four-year letterwinner at Cheboygan Catholic High School, where she earned letters every year in volleyball, basketball and softball. As a softball player, Neelis was honored as an all-state and an all-regional player.

From Alpena, Neelis went on the earn her bachelor's degree from Southern Miss in 1994 and then advanced her education with a master's of science in 1995, also from Southern Miss. She is currently seeking her doctrine in sport administration at Southern Miss.

The Cheboygan, Mich., native is the daughter of Eddie and Carol Neelis.