Southeastern University Women's Softball

Drew Dickens was named head coach of the Southeastern men's and women's tennis programs following the conclusion of the 2019 season. Dickens was promoted from the position of Interim Head Coach of both programs, which he served as throughout the duration of the 2019 campaign. In 2025, Dickens once again led both men's and women's tennis to successful seasons. Women's tennis finished the season 18-8, with a 10-2 record at home, and 9-5 against ranked opponents. Returning to the Sun Conference Tournament Championship for the second time in program history, the Fire had four named SUN All-Conference. The season was cut short as the women fell in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament to Xavier (La.), after the season Carlotta Nonnis Marzano and freshman Irene Parigi were named NAIA All-American's. The 2025 men's program reached new heights, posting a program best 18-3 record, and another perfect home season (8-0). Winning the all but one regular season match, the season was started with 14 straight wins with a 6-1 record versus ranked competition. The regular season highlight was the programs, and Sun Conference's first ever win over Keiser University. Another trip to the Sun Conference Tournament came up just short, as the Fire fell in the title match to Keiser, following, four were named All-Sun Conference and Gonzalo Fernandez was the Sun Conference Freshman of the Year. The NAIA National Tournament gave Southeastern a first-round scare as the Fire survived #12 Cumberland University (Tenn.) 4-3, and rolled into their first ever NAIA National Tournament Semifinal with a 4-1 win over #13 University of the Cumberlands. The season came to an end at the hands of #1 Georgia Gwinnett College, with Diego Menendez and Javier Gallego named NAIA All-American's. January 29 marked the start of the 2024 season for men’s and women’s tennis for Coach Dickens and the Fire. The men’s team turned in an 18-7 season, with the program’s first ever perfect home record at 11-0. They once again returned to the NAIA National tournament, falling in the Opening Round to William Woods. The women racked up 15 wins in a 15-7 season, and climbed to the Sun Conference Championship for the first time in program history. Their postseason run saw them to the NAIA Quarterfinal with a win over Westcliff in the Opening Round, before falling with #2 Keiser Martina Picardi and Flaminia Guidantoni earned First-Team All-Sun Conference and CSC Academic All-America for their seasons. Picardi added to her accolades with NAIA Second-Team All-American, and ITA NAIA Singles All-American honors. On the men’s side, Diego Menendez and Bruno Pessoa were named First-Team All-Sun Conference, and Piero Fernandez and Alejandro Orihuela were named Second-Team All-Sun Conference. Fernandez earned Sun Conference Freshman of the Year honors for his 15-5 season. Menendez and Pessoa also were regarded as NAIA Second-Team All-Americans, and together in doubles were named ITA NAIA Doubles All-Americans. Menendez for his dominance in singles was named ITA NAIA Singles All-American behind a 16-4 record. Coach Dickens earned Sun Conference Men’s Tennis Coach of the Year for his men’s team's success. In the 2023 season, both the men's and women's teams strung together historic seasons with the men posting an 18-5 overall record and trip to the NAIA National Tournament Quarterfinal where they fell to No. 4 Tennessee Wesleyan by a score of 4-2. The women posted a 14-8 overall record and earned the best finish in program history after advancing all the way to the NAIA National Tournament Semifinals with wins over No. 11 Cumberlands and No. 3 Xavier University. The Fire fell in the semifinals to No. 2 ranked Georgia Gwinnett to end the historic run. On the women's side, Martina Picardi was named Second Team All-Sun Conference while Micah Sypert earned SUN Freshman of the Year and Priscilla Baptista was named the SUN Champion of Character. The Fire men had three NAIA All-Americans with Christian Garay earning First Team All-American honors, Diego Menendez earning Second Team honors, and Federico Barbon earning Honorable Mention. Garay was also named the SUN Player of the Year after a 19-3 record at line one. The Southeastern graduate has led both programs to their only NAIA National Championship appearances, including the first trip to Mobile in program history for the women's team in 2022. During that season, both programs recorded their first victories at the NAIA National Championship with the men's team picking up a 4-3 comeback win over Reinhardt and the women's team cruising to a 4-0 win over Midland.  Martina Picardi was named The Sun Conference Player of the Year and on the men's side, Federico Barbon and Roy Stepanov were The Sun Conference Doubles Team of the Year.  During his first full season as head coach in 2021, Coach Dickens guided the SEU men's tennis team to unprecedented heights. The Fire men advanced to The Sun Conference Tournament Final for the first time in program history after defeating St. Thomas 4-1 in the tournament semifinals. SEU received an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship for the first time ever, where they bowed out to No. 16 Grace 4-2.  In his tenure as Interim Head Coach, Dickens guided both programs to historic seasons. The Fire women were ranked as high as 19th in the NAIA Coaches' Poll, and have posted a 16-4 record and placed third in The Sun Conference. Dickens, along with Keiser head coach Daniel Finn, was named The Sun Conference Women's Tennis Coach of the Year. On the men's side, the Fire went 13-8 with five of the eight losses by one point.    Both teams advanced to The Sun Conference Tournament Semifinals, marking the first time since 2016 both the men's and women's tennis teams qualified to that point. "Drew stepped into a very difficult situation in the fall and has thrived, leading a program that didn't have a lot of success the last few years into the postseason," said SEU Athletic Director Drew Watson. "His energy, positive attitude, and enthusiasm for the game of tennis played a big part in that turnaround and are the reasons I believe he is a perfect fit to lead the tennis programs into the future." Prior to being named Interim Head Coach, Dickens served as a Graduate Assistant Coach for both programs throughout the 2017 season. He was also a four-year standout for the SEU men's program, where he was three-time Academic All-Sun Conference and a two-time TSC Champion of Character.  

Kayla Watkins enters her seventh season at Southeastern University in 2026, having firmly established the Fire as one of the NAIA’s most consistent softball programs. Under her leadership, Southeastern has produced six consecutive winning seasons and four straight trips to the NAIA postseason, highlighted by a return to the NAIA Softball World Series in 2022. Watkins ranks second in program history in both wins and winning percentage, compiling a 208–94 (.689) record at SEU through six seasons, and enters the 2026 campaign with a 231–118 (.662) career record as a head coach. In 2025, Watkins once again guided the Fire to the NAIA National Tournament and back to the Sun Conference Tournament behind one of the most complete teams in program history. Southeastern finished 42–11 overall with 14 wins over ranked opponents and a dominant 20–2 record at home. The Fire featured one of the nation’s top pitching staffs, posting a 1.58 team ERA, while an explosive offense fueled consistent pressure throughout the season. The season included multiple historic moments, as Southeastern secured the program’s first wins over No. 6 Georgia Gwinnett with a series sweep and handed No. 17 St. Thomas its first two home losses of the year. A second-place finish at the Sun Conference Tournament earned the Fire an at-large bid to the NAIA National Opening Round. Nine Fire athletes earned All-Sun Conference recognition, led by Chapel Cunningham as Player of the Year, Maria Zelenka as Pitcher of the Year, and Hailey Bradley as Freshman of the Year. In Opening Round play at Klamath Falls, Oregon, the second-seeded Fire went 2–2, falling twice to Midland to conclude the season. Following the year, Zelenka and Cunningham were named NAIA Third-Team All-Americans, with Cunningham also earning CSC Academic All-America honors. Watkins recorded her 200th career head coaching victory in a 3–2 win over RV Grand View University. The Fire continued their postseason run in 2024, earning another at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament after turning in a 40–19 season and a 14–7 mark in Sun Conference play. Southeastern finished the year ranked No. 25 nationally with four wins over ranked opponents and advanced to the Sun Conference Tournament championship game. The Fire appeared in the NAIA Opening Round before falling in an elimination game to top-seeded Eastern Oregon. Chapel Cunningham capped her season with NAIA Second-Team All-America, NFCA NAIA Second-Team All-America, and CSC Academic All-America honors. Southeastern secured its third straight NAIA postseason appearance in 2023 after a strong regular season and runner-up finish at the Sun Conference Tournament. The Fire posted a 31–14 regular-season record and advanced to the NAIA Opening Round Ashland Bracket in Ashland, Oregon, alongside eventual national champion Southern Oregon. Southeastern concluded the season 33–18 overall and 19–5 in conference play. The 2022 campaign marked a turning point for the program, as Watkins guided the Fire back to the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time in six years. Southeastern claimed the Sun Conference regular season championship and won the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, setting program records for wins in a season and stolen bases. Watkins was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year, with eight Fire athletes earning All-Conference honors. Jamie Mead was selected as the Sun Conference Player of the Year, while Riley Sanders earned both Sun Conference and NFCA Freshman of the Year recognition. During the 2021 season, the Fire recorded eight wins over NAIA Top-20 opponents, continuing the program’s upward trajectory. Britt Robinson, Erica Stahl, and Katie Atkins were named First Team All-Sun Conference selections, Megan Froehlich earned Sun Conference Champion of Character honors, and seven student-athletes were recognized on the Academic All-Sun Conference Team. Prior to her arrival in Lakeland, Watkins spent two seasons as the top assistant coach at Southern Miss, overseeing the pitching staff as the Golden Eagles led Conference USA with a 2.34 team ERA. The staff featured C-USA Pitcher of the Year Abby Trahan, who led the conference with a 1.95 ERA. Watkins also served as head coach at Bryan College, guiding the Lions to a 15–5 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference play and a conference co-championship. Away from the diamond, Watkins has been actively involved in mentoring young women through Bible studies at the college, young adult, and high school levels and previously served as an FCA sponsor. Her commitment to leadership and personal development has remained a consistent element of her coaching philosophy throughout her career. As a student-athlete at Samford and Mississippi College, Watkins posted a .330 career batting average and compiled a 38–14 record with a 1.54 ERA in the circle. She ranks third all-time in Mississippi College history in career ERA and recorded 30 doubles at the plate. Watkins earned two all-conference selections, was named conference newcomer of the year, and achieved CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during her collegiate career. .seu-coach-record { max-width: 680px; margin: 24px 0 12px; border-collapse: collapse; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; } .seu-coach-record th { background: #ce0019; color: #fff; text-transform: uppercase; letter-spacing: .5px; padding: 8px 10px; text-align: left; } .seu-coach-record td { padding: 8px 10px; border-bottom: 1px solid #e5e5e5; vertical-align: top; font-weight: 400; /* ensure no bold in rows */ } .seu-coach-record tr:last-child td { border-bottom: none; } .seu-career-summary { margin-top: 8px; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 600; } .seu-career-summary span { color: #ce0019; } Year Institution Record Postseason / Notes 2017 Bryan 23–24 AAC Regular Season Co-Champions 2020 SEU 12–11 Season shortened due to COVID-19 2021 SEU 29–22 Sun Conference – 7th Place 2022 SEU 52–13 Sun Tournament Champions · NAIA World Series (4th) 2023 SEU 33–18 Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round 2024 SEU 40–19 Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round 2025 SEU 42–11 Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round Career Record: 231–118 (.662)  |  At SEU: 208–94 (.689)

Nick Dodson was hired in April of 2018 to start the Southeastern University track and field program and has since earned eight Sun Conference Coach of the Year titles. In six seasons, the Fire have won six consecutive Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field titles on both the men's and women's sides. Since The Sun Conference started sponsoring indoor track and field in 2021, the Fire have won every championship. The 2024-25 season featured only success for the Fire. Four more Sun Conference titles, claiming both the Outdoor and Indoor titles on both the men's and women's sides. The women's team finished the NAIA Indoor Championship 14th overall, with eight NAIA All-American's and Ashlyn Poulin medaling in the 5000m in the Race Walk, and Maci Mills securing a silver in the 800m Dash. At the NAIA Outdoor Championship, the women finished in a tie for 17th with seven NAIA All-Americans and a bronze medal in the 4x400. Irmiris Mendez was named the Most Oustanding and Most Valuable Performer for the Indoor Season, and the Most Vaulable Performer for the Outdoor Season. Additionally, Dodson was named the Sun Conference Women's Indoor, and Outdoor Coach of the Year. Men's Track and Field finished 49th in the NAIA Indoor National Championship, with five NAIA All-Americans. Turning in a 26th place finish at NAIA Outdoor Nationals with nine NAIA All-Americans. Davien Worrels was named the Sun Conference Indoor and Outdoor Most Oustanding and Most Valuable Performer in the Indoor and Outdoor Seasons. On top of the success, Dodson earned his fourth consecutive Indoor and Outdoor Men's Coach of the Year. In Southeastern's first season as a program, a group of mostly freshman won both the men's and women's Sun Conference titles, and sent athletes to both the indoor and outdoor NAIA National Championships. The indoor season saw freshmen Julia Rohm and Namiah Simpson stamp their names in the record books as NAIA All-Americans. In the outdoor season, Darion Carter finished seventh in the Men's 110 Meter Hurdles in a time of 14.76 seconds to climb the podium and become the first male outdoor All-American in program history. Namiah Simpson was the silver medalist in the Women's 400 Meter Hurdles, posting a time of 1:00.27 in a field of four seniors, two juniors, and a sophomore. Simpson was the lone freshman to make the final. The Women's 4x400 Meter Relay team of Simpson, Miyah Ford, Ashley Higgs, and Courtney Gales placed third in a time of 3:47.97 to earn All-America status. Dodson earned Sun Conference Coach of the Year honors on both the men's and women's sides during the inaugural season. He also was named the South Region Women's Coach of the Year. In his second season at the helm of the program, Dodson coached five All-Americans at NAIA Indoor Nationals. The outdoor portion of the season was canceled due to COVID-19. The 2021 season saw Southeastern win its first two individual titles, picking up the Women's Indoor 4x400 Relay Championship with Yuriah Bigos, Miyah Ford, Namiah Simpson, and Courtney Gales posting a time of 3:46.96 to take gold. During the outdoor championships, Jaqual Bush won the 200 Meter Dash in a time of 23.5 seconds.  In 2022, Southeastern posted a seventh-place finish during the Indoor Men's Championships and was the runner-up during the Men's Outdoor Championships. The Fire had the first, third, and fifth-place individuals in the 110 Hurdles with Glenn Rodgers becoming the first male individual champion in program history. The 2023 season was a record-breaking year for Dodson and Fire track and field as the men would claim the first NAIA National Championship in program history after edging out their competition in the indoor season, earning him an NAIA Men's Track and Field Coach of the Year nod. The Fire also had two individual national champions as Joseph Taylor took home the gold in the 400-Meter Dash and Davion Worrels, Keishon Franklin, James Turner, and Taylor combined for a national championship in the 4x400 Relay.  During the outdoor season, Dodson added two more national championships to his resume with Keishon Franklin taking the 400-Meter gold and Julia Rohm winning the 10,000 Meter title.  In 2024, Dodson ran the tables in the Sun Conference again with the Fire Indoor and Outdoor track and field teams, winning both men’s and women’s Sun Conference Outdoor Championships for the fifth year running. In the Indoor season both the men’s and women’s team claimed first in conference for the fourth straight time. In the indoor season, Dodson was named SUN Indoor Track and Field Coach of the Year, Davien Worrels the SUN Most Outstanding Performer for the men’s division, and Irmiris Mendez the SUN Women’s Most Outstanding Performer.  The Outdoor conference season saw Coach Dodson named Sun Conference Outdoor Track and Field Coach of the Year in both men’s and women’s for the third time. James Williamson III was titled SUN Most Outstanding Performer for the outdoor season, and Chelsee Martino earned SUN Most Outstanding Performer for women’s track and field The Sun Conference Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Coach of the Year, and USTFCCCA South Region Coach of the Year guided both men’s and women’s programs back to the NAIA National Championships in both the indoor season and the outdoor season. The men’s 4x100m comprising Williamson III, Joseph Taylor, Worrels, and Cameron Alamia set a school record time of 39.79 taking first and Williamson III in the 100m with a time of 20.49 took gold at NAIA Outdoor Nationals and was named the championships Most Outstanding Performer. In the NAIA Indoor Nationals, Ashlyn Poulin claimed one of the Fire’s 12 All-American titles with a fourth place finish in the 3000m Race Walk.  Dodson is no stranger to rookie track programs, having been the first signee in the history of Shorter University's program. He also helped build Florida Tech's track program, serving as an assistant in its first season in 2012.   Prior to SEU, Dodson was the head track and cross country coach at Loyola University in New Orleans.In 2018, Dodson and the Wolfpack recorded a second-place finish at the Southern States Athletic Conference Championship and sent seven athletes to the NAIA National Championships. Leah Banks became the first All-American in program history with a seventh-place finish in the Heptathlon. Additionally, Dodson spent a season at Brewton-Parker, helping Devin Frails win the SSAC championship in the 400 with a school and conference record of 48.54.   In 2019, Dodson was also selected for induction into the NAIA Hall of Fame after his decorated career as a student-athlete at Shorter University. At Shorter, Dodson was a four-time Mid-South Conference champion in the 400 hurdles, and held school records for the indoor 200, 4x400 relay, 4x100 relay, and the 400 hurdles. In 2011, he was the NAIA National Champion in the 400m hurdles, and was a three-time runner-up in the event. Dodson was an 11-time All-American, and two-time Champions of Character award recipient. Dodson qualified for the 2012 Olympic Trials in the 400 hurdles. He holds a USA Track and Field Level 2 coaching certification, attending the USATF Elite Coaches Camp in 2014, and received an expert rating strength and conditioning training certification.      

Kelsi Dickens enters her fifth season as an assistant coach for the SEU men's and women's tennis programs. Kelsi previously has served as a tennis coach at IMG Academy for three summers (2014-16). Additionally, she was the head girl's tennis coach at All Saint's Academy in Winter Haven for the past two seasons. Dickens also worked at the USTA National Campus from 2017-19, where she helped put on the US Open in New York. She is USPTA certified. Kelsi played collegiate tennis at Southeastern, earning All-Sun Conference honors twice and all-academic honors twice.  She is a professor and program coordinator for the sport management program at Southeastern and earned her PhD in sport management from Troy University.  Kelsi and her husband Drew reside in Lakeland.  

Jordan Moore joins the SEU softball staff after finishing her collegiate career at Samford University and Mississippi College.  Moore began her playing career in her hometown at Samford University, before transferring to Mississippi College as a junior, where she graduated in the spring of 2024 with a B.S. in Kinesiology after two years representing the Choctaws on the softball diamond. The Hoover, Ala. native went on to start 112 games at third base as the Choctaws had two of their best seasons in program history going 91-21 and claimed a Gulf South Conference regular season title in 2024. Moore and the Lady Choctaws made the NCAA Regionals in 2023 and 2024 and advanced to a Super Regional for the first time in program history in 2024. Moore finished her career at MC with a .328 average over two seasons, knocking 14 doubles, 4 triples, and 8 home runs. “JoMo” was a GSC All Conference Selection during the 2023 season, and was chosen as an NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2024. Moore also spent two summers playing in the Florida Gulf Coast League in Bradenton, Fla. with the Manatee Squeeze.  Jordan assists primarily with infield play, hitting, and recruiting in her role as a graduate assistant at SEU. She is pursuing her Master’s Degree in Kinesiology at Southeastern University.  

Madison Williams returns to the staff for her second year. Williams joined the Southeastern University softball team in the fall of 2019 after her two year career at Florida State College of Jacksonville. At FSCJ, she recorded 20 home runs and 70 stolen bases in the span of two seasons. While at SEU, Madison was a part of the 2022 squad that won a program best 52 games en route to a regular season Sun Conference Championship and a fourth place finish in the NAIA World Series. In her time with the Fire, Madison stole 67 bases while hitting .314 as a true switch hitter. Madison spent her career as a top outfielder in The Sun Conference. Madison graduated from SEU in 2022 and now teaches locally, giving back to the game by giving private hitting lessons for girls in the Lakeland community. She has been on staff with SEU Softball camps for the last five years. Madison works primarily with SEU outfielders and also assists in recruiting efforts.