New leadership, same winning tradition for Lady Oilers

March 20, 2024

When a Hall of Fame coach retires after 25 years at one high school, seldom does that same high school get a coach that has been in the shadow of that HOF coach for the same length of time that can pick up the torch and continue the winning tradition of that team.

Hall of Fame coach Laneigh Clark retired after her Pearland Lady Oilers captured the 2023 Class 6A state championship while concluding her career as the winningest 6A softball coach in the history of Texas high school softball with 794 career wins. Clark and her team also won the 2010 Class 5A state title.

Serving in her shadow for 25 years has been co-head coach Michele Hyden who has been a part of every victory and state championship. It was a no brainer that Hyden was the obvious replacement, and the veteran coach has proven to be the right choice as she has led the Lady Oilers to a 22-2 mark so far this season while the Lady Oilers are presently the No. 5 state-ranked team in 6A.

Hyden has already gotten some impressive signature wins this season outside of district action.

The Lady Oilers played in one of the toughest tournaments earlier at Barbers Hill which featured four teams that have won a state championship.

Pearland went 6-0 against those five-star opponents. The state champs the Lady Oilers knocked off included Alvin (2008 state titlist), The Woodlands (2011), Keller (2017) and Barbers Hill (2021).

The other quality win in Mont Belvieu came against Kingwood, which reached the state finals in 2013.

In the past two league games, Pearland knocked off No. 3 state-ranked Alvin 6-5 and cross-town cousin Dawson 1-0 to remain atop the district standings at 4-0.

Hyden has not only proven she is an outstanding coach, but she also had an outstanding playing career when she was at Bishop Lynch High School in Dallas. She was the Salutatorian of her senior class.

Selected as an All-State standout in high school, Hyden moved on to play at the collegiate level for Centenary College as a four-year letter winner in both volleyball and softball. She was named as the 1994 NCAA Woman of the Year in Louisiana in softball.

As the 2024 softball season continues -- the Lady Oilers are being guided by the right coach and the tradition continues.

Whether Pearland will repeat as District 23-6A, 6A Region III, and 6A state champions remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure. Under the guidance of head coach Michele Hyden -- the Lady O's are on the right path!