Kayla Watkins

Kayla Watkins enters her fourth season at the helm of the SEU softball program in 2023.

Southeastern made a return to the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time in six years under her direction during the 2022 season and won The Sun Conference regular season championship and the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Fire also set program records for wins in a season and stolen bases. Watkins was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year with eight athletes landing on the All-Sun Conference Teams. Jamie Mead was the league's player of the year and Riley Sanders was selected as The Sun Conference and NFCA's Freshman of the Year.

Coach Watkins guided the Fire to eight wins over NAIA Top-20 opponents during the 2021 season. Britt Robinson, Erica Stahl, and Katie Atkins were named First Team All-Sun Conference selections, while Megan Froehlich was voted the TSC Champion of Character. Additionally, SEU landed seven individuals on the Academic All-Sun Conference Team.

Watkins has spent two seasons as the top assistant coach at the University of Southern Mississippi where she oversaw the pitching staff, and helped contribute in all other areas of the game. The Golden Eagles led Conference USA in earned run average at 2.34, and featured C-USA Pitcher of the Year, Abby Trahan, who topped the individual leaderboard with a 1.95 ERA.

Watkins spent a season as the head coach at Bryan College before heading to Hattiesburg, guiding the Lions to a 15-5 record in the Appalachian Athletic Conference, and a league co-championship.

Prior to her college coaching experience, Watkins won three fastpitch state championships as the head coach at Madison Central High School, posting an overall record of 218-59. Her teams also had three MHSAA 6A State Runner-Up finishes in addition to the three titles. A total of 23 of her players went on to play college softball.

Away from the diamond, Watkins has been a Bible study leader for college girls, young adults, and high school girls in the past, and has been an FCA sponsor.

"It is my greatest joy to come alongside young women and see them grow as players as they also grow in their knowledge and pursuit of Jesus Christ, so I am incredibly grateful to Drew Watson and the administration at Southeastern for allowing me the privilege of pursuing this passion," said Watkins.

As a player, Watkins posted a career .330 batting average and was 38-14 with a 1.54 ERA pitching during her time at Samford and Mississippi College. She ranks third all-time in Mississippi College history with a 1.54 career ERA and also posted 30 doubles at the plate. Watkins was a two-time all-conference selection, conference newcomer of the year, and CoSIDA Academic All-American.