Dodge City softball has steadily improved over the past few seasons and looks to take another step this year and challenge in the KJCCC and NJCAA. The Conqs will head into the 2026 season with Head Coach Mike Viramontez bringing in a new assistant coach with the departure of McKenzie Wagoner. 
 
Riley Ludlam joins the Conquistador coaching staff after a stellar NCAA Division I college career and spending last year as an assistant coach at the University of Oklahoma. Ludlam played five seasons in college with a graduate season in 2024 with OU winning an NCAA National title and four season at Furman University before that. 
 
"I hope to make a strong impact on Dodge City athletics and the softball program by bringing the experience and perspective I gained both as a player and student coach at the University of Oklahoma. Being part of that environment taught me how important culture and preparation is, and I'm excited to help build that here. My goal is to not only help players improve their skills but also grow their confidence and character, making sure they feel supported on and off the field. I want to be part of creating a culture of unity that helps this program keep moving forward while representing Dodge City athletics with pride," said Ludlam. 
 
Ludlam spent the 2025 season on staff as a student coach at OU, helping the team to a 52-9 record, Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles. Her time as a student coach at OU comes after playing for the Sooners during the 2024 season, when she transferred from Furman University and was a part of the Sooners' eighth national title as the team went 59-7 and 22-5 in the Big 12, winning the NCAA National Title. During the 2024 season with OU, she hit .318 with 21 hits and 20 RBI playing in 49 games with 21 starts. After the 2024 season, she was selected to the 2024 Athletes Unlimited Pro Softball Championships Season roster. 
 
The Fort Myers High School native started her college career at Furman, where she played in 169 games over her four-year career, compiling a .309 batting average playing shortstop and catcher. She ranks second in Furman history in career home runs with 25, fourth in doubles (45), and fifth in RBI (117). She was a three-time All-Southern Conference selection and earned SoCon Player of the Year honors in 2023. In her college career, she finished with a .310 batting average with 28 home runs and 137 RBI, playing in 218 career games with 190 starts over five seasons. In her collegiate debut at Furman, she belted two home runs against Ohio while recording four RBI. 
 
In high school, she was a first-team all-state selection and named Class 7A Defensive Player of the Year her senior year at Fort Myers High School. 
 
"What excites me most about joining Dodge City is the opportunity to be part of building something meaningful and having a real impact on the players. I'm passionate about working with athletes and seeing their growth on and off the field. This role allows me to bring the experiences and lessons I've learned into a program that's driven to compete and keep improving. I'm looking forward to being part of that growth, building a strong culture, and representing Dodge City athletics," said Ludlam.