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Selma native and Morgan graduate Hunter Veach is no stranger to the Women’s College World Series.

He was a volunteer assistant for the Auburn Tigers when they finished as runner-up to Oklahoma in 2016 when his sister, Kendall, was a member of the team.

Now after joining Texas Tech, the Red Raider softball program is one win away from earning a spot in the National Championship Series in Oklahoma City. The Red Raiders play Monday night at 6 p.m. on ESPN against the four-time defending champion Oklahoma needing just one win to advance.

Hunter is a 2012 graduate of Morgan Academy and a 2017 graduate of Auburn University. Jamie Tellier said Hunter played baseball for the Senators and quickly went into the coaching ranks. 

He was an assistant at Auburn University-Montgomery for three years, as he helped them win two NAIA national championships in 2014 and 2015. 

After serving as a volunteer coach in 2016, Hunter was added as an assistant coach at Auburn the following season. He then went to the professional ranks and was an assistant with the Cleveland Comets before being the head coach of the Beijing Shougang Eagles from 2018-2020.

The Selma native came back home and coached with the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 2020 while continuing to serve as head coach of the Chinese women’s national team. While at UAB, the Blazers had its second-best winning percentage in conference play.

He then was hired by Gerry Glasco at Louisiana-Lafayette, where they made the playoffs both seasons. They competed in the Super Regionals in 2023 and fell to Baylor 3-4 in the final game of the regionals in 2024.

Glasco then brought Hunter and his wife to Lubbock, Texas, where Hunter became the assistant head coach in charge of the defense. He also serves as the first base coach during games. His wife, Hunter Goldsmith Veach, is the director of softball operations.

Tellier, who has followed Hunter throughout his career from high school to the college coaching ranks, got the opportunity to attend the Women’s College World Series. His mother, Debbie Veach, is also in Oklahoma City cheering on her son.

“It is really great to see Hunter have so much success in his career,” Tellier said. “He did it as a volunteer coach at Auburn, and now he’s doing it again as Texas Tech’s defensive coach. Everywhere he’s been, he’s been a part of success.”

Hunter’s defense will be put to the test against defending champion Oklahoma. The Sooners battled their way through the loser’s bracket to get to the national semifinals.

“All they need is just one more win,” Tellier said. “I know there are a lot of people who are going to be cheering for him.”

Texas Tech ranks 26th national in fielding percentage with a .973 percentage. They have committed only 45 errors through 64 games. The Red Raiders also have the national leader in earned run average in NiJaree Canady, whose average is just 0.86.