University of Tennessee Southern Women's Softball

Murphy Davis begins her third season as head coach of the UT Southern softball program in 2025–26. In just her second year at the helm, Davis led the Firehawks to the NAIA Opening Round final, coming just two wins short of advancing to the NAIA World Series—this was the program's fourth NAIA Championship apperance. Davis brings a wealth of experience from NCAA Division II, having coached at two respected programs—Lee University and the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH). Before her arrival in Pulaski, she served as the top assistant coach at Lee University for four seasons, where she played a key role in the team’s success and development. Her coaching career began as a graduate assistant at UAH in 2019, laying the foundation for her rise in the collegiate coaching ranks. A native of the Atlanta area, Davis is a graduate of Lassiter High School, where she was named Defensive Player of the Year as both a junior and senior. She went on to play collegiately at Young Harris College, where she was a four-year starter and key contributor for the Mountain Lions as an infielder. Davis’s impact at Young Harris was felt both on the field and in the classroom. She was named to the Peach Belt Conference All-Academic Team after her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons and earned Second Team All-Peach Belt Conference honors as a sophomore. As a senior, she posted a .311 batting average, a .388 on-base percentage, and a .418 slugging percentage. She tallied 55 hits, 31 RBI, 31 runs scored, three home runs, and 10 doubles, while recording 11 multi-hit games and tying a career-high with five RBI in a single game against Georgia Southwestern. Over her four-year career, Davis played in 214 games, scored 110 runs, and drove in 113 runs. She totaled 27 doubles across her final three seasons and was a steady presence in the lineup and on defense throughout her time at Young Harris. THE 411 Hometown: Marietta, Ga. Education: B.S. in Business (Young Harris College, 2018); MS in Accounting (the University of Alabama in Huntsville, 2020) Seasons at UTS: 3rd Season (2025-26) MILESTONES AT UTS First Victory: vs Sewanee, 16-0 (Feb. 13, 2024) First SSAC: vs Stillman, 8-4 (Mar. 10, 2024) First in SSAC Tournament: vs Mobile, 13-8 (May 1, 2025) First vs NAIA Top-25 Opponent: vs #18 William Carey, 2-0 (Apr. 12, 2024) First vs NAIA Top-10 Opponent: vs #8 LSU-Alexandria, 7-3 (May 14, 2025) First vs NAIA Top-5 Opponent: n/a First in NAIA Tournament: vs Campbellsville, 4-0 (May. 12, 2025) Win vs Highest-Ranked Opponent: vs #8 LSU-Alexandria, 7-3 (May. 14, 2025) Highest NAIA Coaches' Poll Ranking: n/a Total NAIA Coaches' Polls Appeared in: n/a Longest Win Streak: 8 (Mar. 24, 2025 - Apr. 1, 2025) 25th Win at UTS: vs Bethel, 3-0 (Apr. 24, 2024) 50th Win at UTS: vs Freed-Hardeman, 7-4 (Apr. 15, 2025) COACHING HISTORY   2018-2020 - Graduate Assistant at the University of Alabama Huntsville 2020-2023 - Assistant Softball Coach at Lee University 2023-Present - Head Softball Coach at Tennessee Southern   Year Overall Record Win Pct. Conf. Record Win Pct. Postseason 2024 26-22 .542 10-17 .370 SSAC Second Round 2025 33-21 .611 14-12 .538 NAIA Opening Round Final 2 seasons 59-43 .578 24-29 .453

Keith Essary enters his first season as an assistant softball coach at UT Southern in 2025-26. He brings over 25 years of coaching experience across the high school, collegiate, and professional levels, with a proven track record of player development and team success. Prior to joining the Firehawks, Essary spent two seasons as the assistant softball coach at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. During his time with the Bucks, the program compiled an impressive 80-34 overall record and established itself as one of the top JUCO teams in the region. In 2023, Essary also served as an assistant baseball coach at NCAA Division II Lane College, where he worked with outfielders and hitters. He previously held the role of head coach for the George County High School Lady Rebels in Mississippi (2015–2017), leading the program to consecutive playoff appearances. In 2016, he coached the East team to victory in the Mississippi Senior All-Star Game and was named both District Coach of the Year and Clarion Ledger Coach of the Year. Essary's collegiate baseball coaching experience includes a 2014 stint as assistant coach at Morthland College, where he helped lead the program to a team batting average over .350 in its inaugural season. In 2011, he made his professional coaching debut as field manager of the White Sands Pupfish in the Pecos League, guiding the team to a 41-29 record and helping advance over a dozen players to higher levels of pro baseball. Essary began his coaching career in 1996 by founding the Corinth Cobras, a semi-professional baseball team. He later established the Columbia Curve, which achieved multiple national rankings and appearances in the ASPBA, USBC, and NABA World Series events, peaking at No. 9 nationally. In 2019, he was selected to coach the Team USA Military All-Stars on their national tour—an experience he considers one of the most meaningful of his career, blending his love of baseball with honoring America’s service members. Essary earned his bachelor’s degree from Blue Mountain College in Mississippi. He and his wife, Emily, have three children: Madelyn, a nurse; Noah, a former Division II baseball player; and Ella, a 2025 high school graduate. THE 411 Hometown: Corinth, Miss. Family: Wife: Emily Children: Madelyn, Noah, Ella Daughter-in-Law: Ayla; Mother: Wanda Education: B.S. in Physical Education (Blue Mountain College, 2012) Seasons at UTS: 1st Season (2025-26) COACHING HISTORY     2022-2023 - Assistant Baseball Coach at Lane College 2023-2025 - Assistant Softball Coach at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain 2025-Present - Assistant Softball Coach at Tennessee Southern