Lotief pairing keeps Cajun softball program at a high level

LOUISIAJNA La. - It's not easy to improve on success, and some may find it harder still to work with a spouse, but Stefni and Michael Lotief have made the equation work.

The two have been co-head coaches of Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball program for the last four seasons, guiding the Cajuns to an astounding 208-42 record and an 83.2 winning percentage since taking over in 2001.

That mark includes an appearance in the 2003 Women's College World Series - the fourth in school history - and a school-record 60 victories last season when the Cajuns came within one win of a return to the WCWS.

With a 65-5 mark in four years and the only champion the Sun Belt Conference has ever known, the Cajuns are unanimous choices to win the league again as they begin the 2005 campaign with this weekend's Mardi Gras Classic at Ragin' Cajun Softball Park.

Stefni Whitton came to UL softball from Texas as a standout pitcher who became school's first All-American as well as an Academic All-American during her record-setting career from 1987-90.

While earning an advanced degree at UL, she then served on the coaching staff of program founder and current LSU coach Yvette Girouard, who compiled a monumental 759-250 mark before leaving in 2001.

Michael Lotief was a relative late-comer to the program, but was a UL graduate and dyed-in-the-wool Cajun backer before meeting Stefni, earning a law degree, teaming with Stefni to start fastpitch youth programs in the area and marrying Stefni nine years ago.

With an adaptable marriage, faith and a family atmosphere with players and fans, the Lotiefs are maintaining the high standards set for the school's most accomplished program.

"Our relationship is so special," Stefni said. "It was a first for the university to have that type of (husband-wife) situation, but it has just made our marriage stronger. People have different relationships. Some people like that separation in their marriage between home and work."

"There was a lot of concern at the time that I be involved in the program, probably rightly so," Michael said. "But we started fastpitch here, got a number of people involved and there were a lot of people behind the scenes who busted their tails to be successful.

"Whenever you have success, and you go to a bigger endeavor, you go with the formula that worked before. We had been national champions, had 20 players sign scholarships and we had a comfort level because we had done it."

"Probably the biggest key to it has been mutual respect for what each one brings," Stefni said. "That, and trust. When you love someone who has your best interests at heart, then you don't question their motives about anything."

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com