University of Virginia's College at Wise Women's Softball

Bitter has already claimed 129 victories, including back-to-back 30-win campaigns in 2013 and 2014. During the 2014 season, UVa-Wise won 37 games for the second-most in a single season in program history and claimed the inaugural Mountain East Conference Tournament title. That followed a 2013 season in which Bitter led the Cavaliers to a 31-21 record.   Last season, Co-Head Coach Bitter guided the Cavs back to the MEC tournament for the first time since 2014 as UVa-Wise earned a No. 4 MEC South seed. The Cavs went on a tournament run and advanced to the consolation bracket finals, finishing third in the league championship while eliminating both Wheeling Jesuit University and Concord University.   In five seasons, Bitters student-athletes have been named all-conference 14 times. In 2014, six different Cavs earned MEC All-Conference honors, including Taylor Brandts, who was named MEC Pitcher of the Year. Most recently, UVa-Wise had two placed on the All-MEC Second Team this past season in second baseman Alexa Hernandez and starting pitcher Taylor Brandts. The co-head coach has also seen two players earn all-region accolades while having two student-athletes named Academic All-Americans.   Co-Head Coach Bitter came to UVa-Wise following a successful stint at fellow NCAA Division II institution Chowan University where she served as pitching coach for three seasons. A Virginia native, Bitter was a member of one of the most successful coaching staffs at the Division II level. The Chowan softball team piled up 30-win seasons in her final two years as the pitching coach and captured consecutive CIAA divisional championships.   Bitter is no stranger to success, whether it is in the dugout or in the circle. The former pitcher began her career at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia, where she caught the eye of coaches at Shepherd University. After enrolling, Bitter became the most accomplished pitcher in the history of the program and is still the holder of several single-season and career school records. After completing her playing career, she joined the coaching staff at Washington College in Maryland, serving as a graduate assistant. After her stop at Washington College, Bitter joined the Chowan staff before the 2009 season as pitching coach where she remained until accepting the UVa-Wise job.   The coach and her husband, Nick (fellow co-head coach), reside in Big Stone Gap along with their daughter, Riley.   Karen Bitter Co-Head Coach Twitter:  UVaWiseSB Entering her sixth season at the helm of the UVa-Wise softball program, Karen Bitter has already claimed 129 victories, including back-to-back 30-win campaigns in 2013 and 2014. During the 2014 season, UVa-Wise won 37 games for the second-most in a single season in program history and claimed the inaugural Mountain East Conference Tournament title. That followed a 2013 season in which Bitter led the Cavaliers to a 31-21 record.   Last season, Co-Head Coach Bitter guided the Cavs back to the MEC tournament for the first time since 2014 as UVa-Wise earned a No. 4 MEC South seed. The Cavs went on a tournament run and advanced to the consolation bracket finals, finishing third in the league championship while eliminating both Wheeling Jesuit University and Concord University.   In five seasons, Bitters student-athletes have been named all-conference 14 times. In 2014, six different Cavs earned MEC All-Conference honors, including Taylor Brandts, who was named MEC Pitcher of the Year. Most recently, UVa-Wise had two placed on the All-MEC Second Team this past season in second baseman Alexa Hernandez and starting pitcher Taylor Brandts. The co-head coach has also seen two players earn all-region accolades while having two student-athletes named Academic All-Americans.   Co-Head Coach Bitter came to UVa-Wise following a successful stint at fellow NCAA Division II institution Chowan University where she served as pitching coach for three seasons. A Virginia native, Bitter was a member of one of the most successful coaching staffs at the Division II level. The Chowan softball team piled up 30-win seasons in her final two years as the pitching coach and captured consecutive CIAA divisional championships.   Bitter is no stranger to success, whether it is in the dugout or in the circle. The former pitcher began her career at Tabb High School in Yorktown, Virginia, where she caught the eye of coaches at Shepherd University. After enrolling, Bitter became the most accomplished pitcher in the history of the program and is still the holder of several single-season and career school records. After completing her playing career, she joined the coaching staff at Washington College in Maryland, serving as a graduate assistant. After her stop at Washington College, Bitter joined the Chowan staff before the 2009 season as pitching coach where she remained until accepting the UVa-Wise job.   The coach and her husband, Nick (fellow co-head coach), reside in Big Stone Gap along with their daughter, Riley.  

Bitter enters his third season as Co-Head Softball Coach at UVa-Wise. Bitter collected his first career head coaching victory on April 12, 2015, when UVa-Wise picked up a home sweep of Glenville State.   The co-head coach works with the Cavaliers in hitting and fielding, and played an integral part in UVa-Wises success last year. Guiding the Cavs back to the MEC tournament for the first time since 2014, Bitter led UVa-Wise to a No. 4 MEC South seed in 2016. The Cavs went on a tournament run and advanced to the consolation bracket finals, finishing third in the league championship while eliminating both Wheeling Jesuit University and Concord University.   Last season, Co-Head Coach Bitter saw two of his players earn All-MEC Second Team honors in second baseman Alexa Hernandez and starting pitcher Taylor Brandts.   Prior to becoming co-head coach, Bitter served as an assistant for three and a half seasons, including being a member of the coaching staff that led UVa-Wise to the inaugural Mountain East Conference Tournament Title in 2014. That season, the Cavs went 37-14 for the second-most victories in a single season in program history. As an assistant coach in 2014, Co-Head Coach Bitter helped six different Cavs earn MEC All-Conference honors, including Taylor Brandts, who was named MEC Pitcher of the Year.   As a pitcher at Delaware State, Bitter was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 2006 while also being a First-Team Black College Baseball selection for his work out of the bullpen.   Before coming to UVa-Wise, Bitter served as associate head baseball coach at Washington College. In his role, he created and developed strength and conditioning regimens for both in-season and off-season workouts, while serving as the team's pitching coach.   Co-head Coach Bitter resides in Big Stone Gap with fellow co-head coach and wife, Karen, and their daughter, Riley. Nick Bitter Co-Head Coach Twitter:  UVaWiseSB Nick Bitter enters his third season as Co-Head Softball Coach at UVa-Wise. Bitter collected his first career head coaching victory on April 12, 2015, when UVa-Wise picked up a home sweep of Glenville State.   The co-head coach works with the Cavaliers in hitting and fielding, and played an integral part in UVa-Wises success last year. Guiding the Cavs back to the MEC tournament for the first time since 2014, Bitter led UVa-Wise to a No. 4 MEC South seed in 2016. The Cavs went on a tournament run and advanced to the consolation bracket finals, finishing third in the league championship while eliminating both Wheeling Jesuit University and Concord University.   Last season, Co-Head Coach Bitter saw two of his players earn All-MEC Second Team honors in second baseman Alexa Hernandez and starting pitcher Taylor Brandts.   Prior to becoming co-head coach, Bitter served as an assistant for three and a half seasons, including being a member of the coaching staff that led UVa-Wise to the inaugural Mountain East Conference Tournament Title in 2014. That season, the Cavs went 37-14 for the second-most victories in a single season in program history. As an assistant coach in 2014, Co-Head Coach Bitter helped six different Cavs earn MEC All-Conference honors, including Taylor Brandts, who was named MEC Pitcher of the Year.   As a pitcher at Delaware State, Bitter was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year in 2006 while also being a First-Team Black College Baseball selection for his work out of the bullpen.   Before coming to UVa-Wise, Bitter served as associate head baseball coach at Washington College. In his role, he created and developed strength and conditioning regimens for both in-season and off-season workouts, while serving as the team's pitching coach.   Co-head Coach Bitter resides in Big Stone Gap with fellow co-head coach and wife, Karen, and their daughter, Riley.