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2026 will mark Coach Viland's 6th season at the helm of the Pope Fastpitch program after serving as an assistant coach for four seasons, from 2017-2020. Coach Viland is an alumni of the Pope Fastpitch program, returning to serve as an assistant coach under Coach Chris Turco, then becoming the program head coach in Fall 2021. As an assistant coach, the program reached three straight state championship games from 2018-2020, winning the AAAAAA State Championship in 2019. Coach Viland was named the Georgia Dugout Club AAAAAA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019.
As Head Coach since 2021, Coach Viland has been a part of 3 more region championships, 3 trips to Columbus, a 3rd place state finish in 2021, a State Championship victory in 2022, and a state runner up finish in 2023. The 2022 Hounds set a program best wins and winning percentage with a 35-1 record, also earning the highest national finish in program history, with a #2 national ranking from MaxPreps and a #1 national ranking from Extra Innings Softball. In 2022, Coach Viland earned Cobb County Coach of the Year by Marietta Daily Journal. In 2022 and 2023, she was named State Coach of the Year by both the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association and The Georgia Dugout Club. Coach Viland has served as a coach for the GADC Senior All Star game and the GACA Junior North/South All Star Game. Coach Viland also serves as secretary on the Executive Board of the Georgia Dugout Club Coaches Association.
Coach Viland graduated from the University of Georgia and has taught at Pope since 2018, first in the special education department and currently in the math department.
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Natalie Lampert is a 2011 graduate of Pope High School who returned to her alma mater in 2015 for her inaugural year with Pope Fastpitch. 2026 will mark Coach Lampert's 12th year as a coach in the program. Natalie was a member of the 2010 Pope softball team that secured the program's first ever playoff victory against Creekview High School in the 2010 playoffs. The 2010 team set the school record for wins (at that time) with 19. For her efforts in her senior season of 2010, Natalie was named to the All-State softball team as an outfielder joining fellow Pope coach Jennifer Miller as the only two players at the time to achieve the prestigious award. Natalie's 2010 team was instrumental in the creation and implementation of Pope Fastpitch's tradition of creating a team "Mission Statement" and Natalie was part of Pope Fastpitch's inaugural class of "Mission Protectors".
Coach Lampert served as JV head coach until 2020, and helped lead the JV season to many record breaking seasons. Coach Lampert has served as an assistant varsity coach during her tenure, and has led the team in reaching five state championship game in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2022, and 2023 and securing the AAAAAA State Championship victory in both 2019 and 2022. The 2024 season continued a streak of 15 straight state playoff appearances started by Lampert's senior class at Pope back in 2010. Coach Lampert was named the GADC State Assistant Coach of the Year in 2019.
Upon graduation from Pope High School, Natalie continued her playing career for coach Jamie Grodecki at Georgia College and State University (GCSU) in Milledgeville, Georgia. At GCSU, Natalie was part of the winningest team in school history as the 2013 team posted a then school record 37 wins. Natalie brings a wealth of experience to the Greyhounds after having played in 85 college games and playing an important role in the GCSU outfield where Natalie made only 1 career error during her college tenure. In two of her college seasons, 2012 and 2014, Natalie posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in the outfield). Natalie was also a force on the bases for GCSU, posting a career 83% success rate in stolen bases while scoring 43 career runs.
In 2015 Natalie earned a bachelor's degree in special education and then her masters degree in 2026. She is currently part of the special education department at Mt. Bethel Elementary School. She resides in Kennesaw with spouse Jess and kids: Peyton, Kendall, and Brooklyn.
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Meghan Rud is in her 4th season with the Pope Fastpitch coaching staff. A 2014 graduate of South Forsyth High School and went on to a prestigious collegiate career to play for Coach Stephanie DeFeo at Mercer University in Macon, where she was a force to reckon with at the plate, on the basepaths, and in the outfield. Coach Rud leads our jv team while serving as slapper and baserunning specialist. In 2024, Coach Rud and JV coaching staff led the team to the program record of 18 wins!
Meghan earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and then went on to earn her doctorate of physical therapy from Mercer. She currently works for Form Physical Therapy in Roswell.
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Pope Alumni Abby Rocco will begin her 3rd season with the Greyhounds. A Pope player from 2017-2020, she helped lead the program to 2 state runner up finishes and a state championship in 2019. She will lead the pitching staff in 2026, utilizing her knowledge of the game and gameplay to provide advantage to the Greyhounds in the circle and all aspects of the game.
Upon graduation from Pope, Abby attended and played at Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs, first under legendary coach Kevin Fagan, and ending her career under head coach Kenneth Bellamy. Coach Bellamy's squad, led by Abby Rocco as a senior, competed in the conference Carolinas and made a strong push into the conference semi-final game.
Abby holds an undergraduate degree in English and is wrapping up her Master's Degree in English Education. She teaches English I and English II at Pope.
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Coach Brody Campbell returns for his second season as a community coach with the Greyhounds, bringing his calm and charismatic nature to the coaching staff and program. Hailing originally from Ringgold, Georgia, Brody was a 2020 graduate from Heritage High School. He went on to play collegiately at Emmanuel University in Franklin Springs under longtime Coach, Coach Jeff Kilgore. A power-hitting lefty and infielder, Coach Brody's expertise in the offensive swing and general gameplay is an asset to the Pope Fastpitch program.
Brody graduated from Emmanuel University with a degree in Business Administration. He currently works for 643 Baseball, coaching 2 different teams and working in their merchandise department. A true lover of the game, Brody will routinely be found at a baseball/softball practice, game, or lesson!
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Pope alumni Morgan Herman will be joining the 2026 coaching staff as our head JV coach. A pitcher in the program from 2017-2020, Morgan's pitching background and relatability to our Pope Fastpitch players will help all our players shine on and off the field. Coach Morgan was a part of the 2019 State Championship team and a senior in the 2020 state runner-up season. She was an influential leader in the program, routinely leading younger players in the "PFP Way" and shining through as a true Greyhound.
After graduating Pope High School in 2021, Morgan attended Union University where she graduated with her undergraduate degree in teaching and learning. She returned to the Cobb County area and with a lifelong passion for teaching and helping others, began giving back to softball community with private softball lessons and acquired a job teaching at Tritt Elementary. She is now pursuing her Master's Degree of Elementary and Early Childhood Education through Kennesaw State University and beginning her second year teaching at Davis Elementary where she will be teaching 3rd grade.
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Pope Alumni Zoe Laneaux will begin her 1st year on the Pope Fastpitch Coaching staff after an esteemed playing career at Pope from 2016-2019. A true power threat from the left side and agile infielder, Zoe's hitting and infield play expertise, along with extensive softball experience will be a strength in the 2026 coaching staff. As a Greyhound, Zoe helped capture the 2019 state championship title her senior season with a legendary season batting .518 with 11 homeruns and 51 RBIs. She had a career .578 on base percentage and .462 batting average with 24 homeruns. She currently holds the Pope career doubles record (46) and walk record (87), and ranks top 3 in countless other categories. She was named to the All-State 1st Team in 2017, 2018, and 2019, and GADC Player of the Year in 2018.
After her time at Pope, Zoe went on to a 4-year career as a Gamecock at the University of South Carolina, where she played for Coach Beverly Smith. Zoe collected over 100 career hits and shined at the 3rd base position, posting the 2nd highest fielding percentage for a 3rd baseman during her junior season. Not once, but TWICE you can find Zoe on SportsCenter's Top 10 Play highlight reel for web gems at third base.
Zoe is in her 2nd year as a parapro and works at Pitner Elementary in Kennesaw.
