Rounding the Bases with Dayton Assistant Coach Brittany Duncan

Rounding the Bases checks in with first-year assistant coaches at new programs and shines a spotlight on their coaching styles and perspectives. Some may be rookies in the coaching world, while others may be seasoned veterans who have simply moved to a new locale.

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Brittany Duncan has spent nearly her entire career in college softball in the same geographical region. After beginning her career at Valparaiso in Indiana, she transferred to Louisville to finish her playing career. She served as both a student-assistant and volunteer assistant with the Cardinals before beginning her full-time coaching career.

From 2018 through the 2022 season, Duncan was on staff at Northern Kentucky, where she guided the Norse’s offense. This summer, she joined the coaching staff at Dayton, returning to her home state for the first time as a coach.

Extra Inning Softball: When did you know that you wanted to pursue coaching as your career path?
Brittany Duncan: When I transferred to the University of Louisville, I had my heart set on becoming a physical education teacher. I enjoyed being in the classroom, making lesson plans and the environment of a school setting. During my fifth year, I became a student manager for Louisville softball. After that fall semester, I knew I wanted to pursue coaching after completion of my degree and began discussing options with Coach [Sandy Pearsall]. I worked closely with the offense, helped discuss game plans and was in charge of film at home and on the road. I am truly grateful for that fifth year of school and the opportunity to become a volunteer coach at Louisville the following year.

Extra Inning Softball: Describe your coaching style. What do you feel are your biggest strengths as a coach?
Brittany Duncan: During the first week of workouts, I always tell my student-athletes my biggest goal is to be present and consistent. I hold myself to those two standards in all I do, not just on the softball field. I work to create meaningful relationships with my student-athletes and to truly understand what they want their academic and athletic journey to look like.

Extra Inning Softball: Tell me what you gleaned from your time on staff at NKU. What did beginning your full-time coaching career there instill in you to help build the remainder of your career on?
Brittany Duncan: My first year of being an assistant coach was truly a big transition. Coach Gleason took the time to help me, as a young coach, navigate collegiate coaching. For the first time, the day-to-day operations of offense and catching were my responsibility. I learned I needed to become a better listener, learned to take feedback, to make adjustments as needed and [to] hold myself accountable. As a young coach, you’re more worried about your student-athletes taking reps than actually understanding your philosophy (I was still working on mine). As the years go by, you learn that you need to coach and support the athlete as a whole and make sure they understand your philosophy and non-negotiables. The past five years at NKU really helped me evolve into the coach I am today.

Extra Inning Softball: Who are your biggest coaching influences and mentors? What impact has their influence had on your career?
Brittany Duncan: My biggest mentor and supporter is Sandy Pearsall. When I have questions or need guidance, she is the first phone call I make. She fostered a winning and competitive culture that I was very fortunate to become a part of. When I was in the process of transferring, I had conversations with coaches all over the country. But I knew when I talked to Coach P and stepped on campus for the first time, Louisville was home. My biggest coaching influence is my father, Tim Duncan. From a very young age, he saw excellence in me and pushed me to become an elite athlete. My parents’ sacrifices are the reason I am where I am today. I cannot thank him enough for the continued love and encouragement.

Extra Inning Softball: Having played and then begun your coaching career in the same region where you are now a full-time coach, how big of a benefit for you is that regional familiarity?
Brittany Duncan: Playing, coaching and recruiting in the same region as I grew up, I can say I have made lifelong friends and relationships. Recruiting within Ohio is like homecoming for me every weekend that I am out. These connections are wonderful when communicating about athletes, camps and tournaments.

Extra Inning Softball: What needs to happen for you to consider this season, your first year at Dayton, to be a “successful” year?
Brittany Duncan: A successful year at the University of Dayton would be our seniors graduating and beginning a job in their desired field. From a softball standpoint – post season! We must accomplish smaller goals first in order to make it to the NCAA Tournament, [goals] such as winning the Atlantic 10 regular season and the A-10 tournament.