Methodist University Women's Softball

Alexis (Alex) Allaman was promoted as the head softball coach in June of 2022. She had previously served the Monarchs as an assistant coach for four seasons under former head coach Ron Simpson upon joining the staff in the fall of 2018. She graduated from Fayetteville State University in 2016 with a Bachelor's degree in elementary education with a concentration in physical education. Allaman later received her Master’s degree from MU in coaching education and athletic administration. The 2022 season witnessed a turnaround from the previous season as the Monarchs went 23-21 overall and 12-6 in conference play. The team competed in the USA South Softball Tournament for the first time since the 2013 season but got knocked out by the No. 1 seed of the west, Piedmont. The 23-21 record was also the Monarchs' first 20+ winning season since 2013. In the 2021 season, the team returned to a normal schedule and posted an overall record of 10-26 and 4-10 in conference play. In the 2020 season that was cut short by COVID-19, the Monarchs had a 9-9 record. The 9-9 mark was Methodist's best start through 18 games since the 2013 season. The Monarchs finished with a 11-27 record in Allaman's first season at Methodist. That was the Monarchs' first 10-win season since 2015. Prior to her arrival at Methodist she was the assistant coach at Fayetteville State for two seasons. She assisted Jackie Stickley in leading the Broncos to winning a southern division championship in 2017 and to the CIAA conference championship game in 2018. Allaman was a three-year letter winner, two-time All-CIAA selection, a 2015 CIAA Commissioner's All-Academic selection and a 2016 All-CIAA preseason selection at Fayetteville State. She received All-CIAA First Team honors in 2016 and All-CIAA Second Team honors at the conclusion of 2015; both as a centerfielder. As a junior in 2015 she ranked 26th nationally (NCAA DII) in batting average and 1st in toughest to strikeout. In 2014, Allaman received the Division II Athletics Directors Association (DII ADA) Academic Achievement. As a student-athlete at Fayetteville State, she played in 106 games with 320 at-bats, 101 hits, 74 runs scored, 19 doubles, 9 homeruns, and 81 RBIs. Allaman finished with a career hitting average of .316 and a slugging percentage of .491 She began her collegiate career at Greensboro College before transferring to FSU. At Greensboro she played in 33 games, had a .283 batting average, .339 on-base percentage, a .434 slugging percentage, and hit 12 doubles. Allaman earned USA South honors as Rookie of the Week going 4-for-7 (.571) in a doubleheader against Lynchburg. She also was on the All-Academic Conference Team.     

Brett Karpman joined the Methodist University tennis staff in the fall of 2024 as an assistant coach for both the Monarch men’s and women’s programs. He also serves as the institution’s Professional Tennis Management (PTM) Program Coordinator. Karpman arrived at Methodist following roles as the Director of Adult Tennis at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, and as a consultant for the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) in Hilton Head, South Carolina. No stranger to collegiate athletics, Karpman previously spent eight seasons (2007–15) as the head men’s and women’s tennis coach at Queens University of Charlotte. During his tenure, he elevated both programs to national prominence, guiding the Royals to NCAA Division II rankings of No. 29 on the men’s side and No. 28 for the women. His 2010 women’s team posted a perfect 17–0 regular season and qualified for the NCAA Tournament, with the program earning a second NCAA berth in 2015. On the men’s side, Karpman led Queens to its first-ever Conference Carolinas Championship and first NCAA appearance in 2011. Across eight seasons, Karpman’s teams combined for a 189–104 record. He coached 35 All-Conference honorees, multiple Freshman and Player of the Year selections, and helped his squads advance to conference finals and semifinals. His coaching honors include back-to-back Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year awards (2009–10 and 2010–11) and the 2015 Wilson/ITA Southeast Region Men’s Coach of the Year. Karpman also emphasized academic and community success. Under his leadership, Queens tennis earned the department’s highest team GPA for eight consecutive years, while five of his student-athletes received the nationally prestigious ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award. His programs regularly volunteered with organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House and other Charlotte-area nonprofits. Prior to Queens, Karpman spent the 2006–07 season as an assistant coach at UNC Wilmington. During that year, he assisted with national recruiting efforts and helped guide the Seahawks to a 14–6 record—the best in program history at the time—which included their first win over a nationally ranked opponent. A native of Montreal, Canada, Karpman earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Queens University of Charlotte in 2006. A former varsity tennis student-athlete for the Royals (2002–04), he was recognized as a National Presidential Scholar-Athlete and later served as a student assistant coach from 2004–06. Karpman is certified as a Level Two Tennis Professional by both the PTR and USPTA, and he also holds PPR certification as a Pickleball Teaching Professional.