Howard University Women's Softball

Howard University Director of Athletics Kery Davis announced the hiring of Victoria Tyson as the new head coach of the softball program on Monday, Nov. 1, 2018. Tyson came to Howard from the University of Maryland College Park where she was the pitching coach. "We are excited to welcome Victoria Tyson to the Bison program. She is a rising star in softball coaching circles with a demonstrated ability to recruit and teach the game at the highest levels," commented Davis. "She comes from a softball family and has learned the game from some of the best softball coaches in the country.  She is now ready to lead our team not only on the field but in the classroom." In 2025, Tyson led HU to its third MEAC Title in program history after going 31-20 (20-1 MEAC). After the regular season, a program-best 11 Bison earned MEAC postseason honors: Ameenah Ballenger (First Team); Sidney Fletcher (First Team); Mia Gonzales (First Team); Merci Hart (First Team); Kenna Higa (First Team); Julia Holt (First Team); Lauryn Jones (First Team); Payton Quinonez (Third Team); Lealani Ricks (First Team) Angel Riggins (Second Team) and Alyssa Vasquez (First Team). Additionally, Jones was selected MEAC Rookie of the Year. In 2024, Tyson led the team to a 32-win season with a 16-5 mark in MEAC play. After the regular season, the program saw eight Bison receive MEAC postseason honors: Mia Gonzales (All-MEAC Third Team); Merci Hart (All-MEAC Second Team); Kenna Higa (All-MEAC Second Team);  Julia Holt (All-MEAC First Team); Maryn Jordan (All-MEAC First Team); Lealani Ricks (All-MEAC Second Team); Alyssa Vasquez (All-MEAC First Team) and Bianca Worthy (All-MEAC First Team). Additionally, Jordan and Cheyenne Castille were named to the NFCA All-Region Team. In 2023, the program won 20 games while going 10-9 in league play. After the regular season, five Bison earned MEAC postseason honors: Kalita Dennis (All-MEAC Second Team); Sidney Fletcher (All-MEAC First Team); Lealani Ricks (All-MEAC Third Team); Alyssa Vasquez (All-MEAC First Team) and Amelia Weber (All-MEAC Team). Academically, 10 Bison made the Softball All-Academic Team. In 2022, Tyson guided the program to its second Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Championship after defeating long-time rival Morgan State. After the tourney, she was named the tournament’s outstanding coach. Howard wrapped up MEAC play with a 17-4 mark, the program’s best finish since winning the back-to-back MEAC Northern Division titles (2009 & 2010). Along the way, she coached a program-best eight Bison to All-MEAC honors: Victoria Brown (All-MEAC Second Team); Analise De La Roca (All-MEAC Second Team); Kalita Dennis (All-MEAC First Team); Camille Navarro (All-MEAC Second Team); Payton Quinonez (All-MEAC Second Team); Lealani Ricks (All-MEAC First Team); Alyssa Vasquez (All-MEAC Second Team) and Alyssa Watson (All-MEAC Third Team). In her third season (2021), Tyson witnessed Camille Navarro earn MEAC Player of the Year and Kiana Carr take home MEAC Pitcher of the Year. Before the 2020 season was shutdown due to COVID-19, Kalita Dennis made the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List, becoming the first Bison in program history to be honored for this achievement. In her first season (2019), Coach Tyson revitalized the program with several victories throughout the year. HU reached the postseason for the first time since 2015 while grabbing their first tourney win in eight seasons (2011). Additionally, the Bison's 19 victories are the most since 2012. The conference unveiled its softball postseason honors where Kalita Dennis (MEAC Rookie of the Year; All-MEAC), Xzarria Simmons (All-MEAC) and Camille Navarro (All-MEAC) received recognition. Before joining the Bison, Tyson was named an assistant coach for the Chicago Bandits franchise of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league. In this position, she produced two undefeated pitchers in the NPF league. Additionally, the team had the second lowest staff ERA posted in franchise history. At Maryland she assisted in leading the Terps to their first Big 10 appearance since 2015. Under her guidance the Terps' pitchers led the team to its first back to back conference series win. Before Tyson joined the Terrapin staff she led Cal State Fullerton to two straight NCAA Regional appearances and two Big West Conference Championships. The pitchers she coached at Fullerton pitched 46 complete games with 24 shutouts. She had two of her pitchers go on that year to win Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. Tyson's added experience includes being assistant coach at Bethune-Cookman University where she spearheaded scouting reports on opponents, served as the recruiting coordinator and was the primary pitching coach training the 2015 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year.  During her time on the softball team at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln she was a scholarship student-athlete and letter winner. Tyson played three years of softball where she trained under pitching coach Lori Sippel. She appeared in the 2009 NCAA Regional for the Cornhuskers and made 47 starts in 2010. She pitched her first two seasons as a Cornhusker and went on to become a team captain in 2011.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications Studies in 2012. 

In July 2025, Mackenzi Steele Zuppas returned to The Mecca as an assistant coach after two seasons at Gardner-Webb University (GWU).   In 2023, Zuppas joined the Runnin’ Bulldogs as an assistant and pitching coach before being promoted to associate head coach the following year (2024). In two seasons, GWU amassed 53 wins, including a 33-20 mark a year ago. As a result, this was the most wins record since the 2007 season (35-27). That same season saw the pitching staff post a team 2.97 ERA under the guidance of Zuppas.   In 2022, Zuppas was a volunteer assistant at the University of Nebraska. During her time with the Huskers, she helped the program to a Big Ten Tournament title – the first since the school joined the league (2011) – and an NCAA Tournament berth. Nebraska finished with a 41-16 (17-5 Big Ten) overall record. Zuppas was part of a coaching staff that was named 2022 NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year – learning from some of the sport's greatest minds in Rhonda Revelle, Lori Sippel and Dianne Miller. She assisted in all aspects of the game, including bullpens, scouting, hitting, team practices, individual workouts, game operations and game strategy.   Before moving into the volunteer role, Zuppas served as the graduate assistant at Nebraska for two years. She earned a master's degree in higher education administration and finished with a stellar 3.95 grade point average (GPA).   Zuppas finished her collegiate career at Howard after playing at Daytona State College and Appalachian State University.   In her final season, she helped lead Howard to their first conference tournament win and highest tournament finish in nine seasons. She pitched 317.0 innings over two seasons in 73 appearances. Academically, Zuppas finished with a 3.63 GPA with honors and an undergraduate degree in sports management.

In August 2025, Lair Beautae joined the Howard University softball team as an assistant coach. In 2024, Beautae wrapped up her collegiate career at Ole Miss, leading the squad to the Women's College World Series with a 42-21 mark. In her final season, she posted a .336 batting average with a .936 OPS. Beautae also spent time at Houston, setting the Cougars' single-season runs scored (55) and runs per game (1.02), and Tennessee. Coming out of high school, Beautae was rated the No. 19 overall prospect and No. 16 infielder for the Class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball. She was slotted No. 55 overall by Softball America’s Top 100 list of 2021 prospects. Beautae attended John W. North High School and lettered in softball and basketball all four years. She garnered Freshman All-American honors from MaxPreps (2018), finishing her debut high school season batting .643 with 46 runs, 63 hits, 26 RBIs and 33 stolen bases.

Salim King is a native of Hempstead, New York where he attended Hempstead High School (1993-97). During his tenture, he was a member of the swimming and diving team. Heavily recruited, King decided to attend Howard University upon graduation. At Howard, he majored in Afro American studies and minored in elementary and physical education. As a member of the team, he became both a school record holder in the 1650-yard freestyle and a team captain. After graduation, King became a teacher for the Prince George’s County Public Schools system. While working full-time as a teacher, King taught private swim lessons on occasion to friends and family but desired to begin coaching on a larger and more competitive scale. He spent the next four years as head coach at Central High School, where he produced the school’s first all-state swimmer. King went on to coach the Kingfish Swim team in the Prince-Mount swim league for two seasons. As head coach, King led the Kingfish to a 14-2 combined record before being offered an opportunity to return to his alma mater. For the last five years, King has worked with the program and enjoys working with the current crop of distant swimmers as they help move the Bison to new heights. During the 2018-19 campaign, both teams were named to the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association (CSCAA) Scholar All-America Team. Individually, diver Christian Nickolas represented HU in the 2019 NCAA Diving Championships while earning a spot on the 2019 CSCAA Scholar All-America honors.

Monique White was named Director of Player Development for the Howard University Softball team in 2024.   White is an accomplished and highly motivated professional with over 15 years of coaching and player development experience.   With a Master of Science in Leadership and a proven track record of academic excellence, White is a values-based leader who uses emotional intelligence and mindfulness to cultivate optimal performance in her athletes. She is dedicated to a holistic approach that addresses players' physical, mental, and emotional development, which is in line with the growth of the Bison program.   Her extensive coaching career includes roles as head coach at Hampton University, where she led the team to multiple CAA Team Academic Excellence Awards, underscoring her commitment to academic excellence alongside athletic achievement.   As an assistant coach for the Texas Smoke Women's Professional Fastpitch team, she guided them to the first-ever WPF championship title. White's innovative mental training techniques, particularly her implementation of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement (MSPE), empower athletes to build mindfulness skills essential for consistent and high-level performance.   White's career highlights include managing all operational, fiscal, and recruiting activities for various programs, establishing successful recruiting pipelines, and consistently improving team GPAs across her coaching roles. She has also been actively involved in community service outreach and fundraising efforts, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in athletics, and mentoring the next generation of athletes and coaches.   In addition to her professional coaching expertise, White has served as a Program Mentor at Western Governors University, guiding students to success in their cybersecurity and information assurance programs. Her collegiate and professional playing experience further solidifies her credentials, as she set records and led teams in batting at Florida International University and the Gryphons in the Netherlands.   White is known for fostering an environment of excellence, growth, and holistic player development. Her leadership style, which emphasizes the importance of both on-field success and personal growth, has been instrumental in preparing her athletes for success both on and off the field.