Hall of Fame
LLOYDENE SEARLE
Hometown: North Ogden, Utah
Sports: Women's Basketball, Softball, Volleyball, Softball Head Coach
Years: 1972-75 – Student-Athlete; 1981-97 – Head Coach
Lloydene Searle was the first female to earn an athletic scholarship in Utah State history as she competed in volleyball, basketball and softball during her Aggie career and was named the school's Female Athlete of the Year during her senior season in 1975. A four-year captain in each sport she competed in, Searle earned all-conference honors in both basketball and softball, as well as a Kodak All-American basketball team nomination. Following her collegiate career, Searle played professional softball for one year before entering the coaching fraternity. In 1981, she was named Utah State's head softball coach and led the Aggies to a national championship, their second-straight, in her first season. In 17 years as the Aggies head coach, Searle compiled a record of 467-345-2 (.739) and is the school's all-time leader in wins and games coached. During her 17 years at Utah State, she averaged 30 wins per season and led USU to the Women's College World Series five times (1981, 1984, 1989, 1992, 1993). Utah State won a school-record 43 games in 1992, and in 1993, Searle was named the Big West Conference Coach of the Year as the Aggies tied for the league title, their last in school history. Searle was also named the High Country Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1985. Overall, Utah State won five conference championships under Searle (1981, 1982, 1986, 1987, 1993) as she coached 15 All-Americans, 21 all-region selections and 30 all-conference honorees. In 2011, Searle and the rest of the 1981 National Championship softball team were inducted into the USU Athletics Hall of Fame.
