Jena High School senior softball pitcher Kiette Cooper signed her letter of intent with McNeese State University in Lake Charles during the early signing period last week.
A special ceremony was held at the JHS Fieldhouse Wednesday, November 12, where a large crowd of family, friends and teammates attended to celebrate her achievement.
Lady Giants softball head coach Sarah Roark was extremely proud of the Jena athlete, who has helped the Lady Giants reach the state tournament all three years of her high school career. In 2023 and 2024, as a freshman and sophomore, Kiette led the team to the semifinals, then last year in 2025, as a junior, the Lady Giants advanced to the state championship game where they took home the runner-up title.
This year in Kiette’s senior year, the team has set their sights to return to Sulphur and make another bid for a state championship.
Cooper is one of eight student-athletes that McNeese head coach James Landreneau is excited to have signed during the early signing period. All are decorated athletes and the 2026 class of signees for the 2027 season includes three pitchers, including Cooper.
“We are thrilled to welcome Payton Prince (OF-Sulphur, LA), Kiette Cooper (P-Jena, LA), Jordyn Thibodeaux (P-Corpus Christi, TX), Laney Galloway (IF-Montgomery, TX), Presley Alaniz (P-League City, TX), Bella Dzialo (C-The Woodlands, TX), Grace Brewer (OF-Montgomery, TX) and Isabella Estrada (IF-San Antonio, TX) to our program,” Coach Landreneau stated. “Each of these athletes brings unique skill sets, versatility and a competitive edge that will elevate our team. Their commitment to excellence on and off the field reflects the core values of McNeese softball and we cannot wait to see them compete as a Poke.”
Cooper, one of Jena’s most highly decorated softball players ever to wear the Lady Giant uniform, has 898 career strikeouts, 16 homeruns and a career batting average of .369. She has struck out 898 batters in 563 innings, with an ERA of 2.30. And she still has her senior year to play!
During her three years thus far at Jena High, she has been the recipient of the following awards: All-District all three years; District MVP freshman and junior years; Team MVP all three years; LSWA All-State freshman and junior years; SB Live All-State sophomore year; All-Cenla Softball Team junior year, Sports Illustrated All-State junior year; and Bayou Jamb Defensive Player of the Year junior year.
The McNeese State Cowgirls finished their 2025 season with a record of 41-20 and 23-4 in Southland Conference play and entered the conference championship as the top seed. They lost in the conference championship series to Southeastern in an exciting Game 3 finale.
Kiette is the daughter of Trina Howard and Kiki Cooper.
