Coach Spotlight: Former Kansas Jayhawk All-Conference Player Mariah Haygood… Today, She’s Heads the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year

When a parent signs their children up for youth sports, they put trust in coaches to not only teach fundamentals of the sport but also to trust that the coach recognizes the impact they can have on their players.

For Texas Glory 14U – Nadin Head Coach Mariah Haygood, that impact was validated when she and Assistant Coach Lee Valazquez were honored on Oct. 4, 2021 as the 2021 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year.

The success on the field—including a trio of 1^st place finishes this past Summer at the Tulsa Elite Invitational, Texas Glory Summer Shootout and the TFL Summer Championship—were key to the recognition, but to know the reason for the award, you have to know more about what Coach Haygood represents off the field.

Mariah  currently lives in McKinney, Texas, with her husband and three sons but before settling down in the Lone Star State, her softball journey began in a smaller town just outside of Omaha, Nebraska.

The future standout player and coach attended Ralston High and had a very successful high school career highlighted by her being selected as the Ralston High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

The young athlete was a finalist for the 2008 Gatorade Player of the Year award after being a three-time Super State 1^st Teamer from 2006 through 2008.

Mariah also played with the same club team her entire club career, the Ralston Renegades, and it was then when she was noticed by the coaching staff at Kansas University, where she play from 2010 through 2014.

During her days as a Jawhawk standout player, Mariah was named a team captain and earned All-Big Defensive Team and All-Conference honors after starting every game as a freshman, sophomore and junior–a streak of 160 games!

You can definitely say Mariah has “been there and done that” when it comes to her softball career as a player.  Today, she is now working with the young softball players as a coach, role model and inspiration.

Many players have dreams of playing at the next level and often coaches might know about the game but never actually played.  Mariah brings a unique perspective as a coach because she has walked in the players’ shoes and knows what it takes to play at the highest levels.

There is no doubt it takes a lot of commitment, work and practice but, one aspect often overlooked is the mental toughness and ability to overcome adversity needed to reach playing at the collegiate level.

Mariah says she knows how hard it can be at times going from a little girl on a ball field with big dreams to transitioning into being a young woman.

“It can be hard dealing with all the hormone changes and keeping your grades up while being a high school athlete,” she explains. “Then there’s the ups and downs high school experiences can bring and then, when the time comes, deciding on which college to attend.”

Mariah has been through it all and has the wisdom, experience and, yes, even battle scars in some cases, to help her players navigate through those things both on and off the field.

Last week, when the NFCA announced that the two Glory coaches had won the National Fastpitch Coaching Association (NFCA) National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which they’ll be presented with at the NFCA convention in Las Vegas in early December, it validated a lot of what the coach has done—and is trying to do—to inspire the next generation of athletes and potential coaches.

“Winning the award makes me want to do all I can to empower others to reach their dreams and believe in themselves,” she says while expressing her gratitude to the Glory organization who, she adds, “has been so supportive and provided great facilities and resources to us coaches.”

Although she loves softball—it’s been her life, really—there’s no doubt that Mariah’s greatest love is her family and  her responsibilities that go with being a wife and mother.

“My husband Brandon and sons Zane (age 8), Langston (3) and Bishop (19 months) are my biggest cheering section!” she laughs, “and they allow me to have the opportunity to work with the younger players and off the field.”

When it comes to the sport she’s played since youth, Mariah says her primary desire in coaching isn’t just winning games, but teaching girls how to play the sport the right way.

“I see softball as an avenue to empower young women to become strong, confident, caring and successful women,” she says, noting that she has had great role models in her journey as well.

“I look at former Kansas head coach Megan Smith as one,” Mariah adds. “She’s been a role model not just for me, but Coach Smith has paved the way for many young women in softball.”

The coach says her desire to empower young women, be a positive role model and make a lasting impact in the lives of others is greatly aided by her husband, who is right there by her side in helping her achieve her coaching goals.

“I’m so thankful for Brandon’s support,” she says. “He’s a rock star when it comes to supporting me, especially when I have to travel to tournaments with the team.  Talk about empowering women… he really gets it!”

As Mariah reflected on how to make a lasting impact in the lives of young women and use her platforms to empower them, the coach says what’s driven her is how she kept seeing a lack of women stepping up and giving back to the sport.

“Sadly, female coaches within the sport are not as common as many might think since the players are females,” Mariah says. “Often college ball players go on to have careers outside the sport, get married and/or have children and coaching just isn’t something they have time for.”

Mariah hopes by winning this award she herself will be positive role model in inspiring more female coaches who may have stepped away from the sport to get back involved…  even in a small way.

“It would be great if more of us who’ve played can give back by teaching the next generation of upcoming young players.”

— Joy Roeder, Extra Inning Softball Correspondent