Whitney Hawkins enters her fourth season as assistant softball coach at North Alabama. The former standout pitcher at UAH spent the the previous three seasons as a student coach with the Chargers, working primarily with the team’s pitching staff.
Hawkins joined UNA head coach Ashley Cozart in being named the 2016 NFCA Regional and National Coaching Staff of the Year following the Lions' 60-7 campaign the culminated in the NCAA Division II National Championship.
While at UNA, Hawkins has coached some of the top pitchers at the conference, regional and national levels. In her first three seasons, she has had seven All-Gulf South Conference and three All-South Region selections at pitcher. During the 2016 title run, left-handed pitcher Hillary Carpenter was named the MVP of the national tournament, tying a record with five victories at the championship event.
Hawkins lettered two seasons at UAH, earning first team All-Gulf South Conference and first team All-South Region honors twice. She helped lead the Chargers to the NCAA Division II national championship game in 2009 and earned a spot on the national all-tournament team. She was also named the 2009 South Region Tournament MVP. She wrapped up her career at UAH with a 1.28 earned run average.
Prior to her time at UAH, Hawkins played two seasons at Wallace Community College in Dothan. She was a two-time All-State and All-Region selection in 2007 and 2008. Her four-year collegiate career included a .391 batting average with 23 home runs and a 76-17 record in the pitching circle.
Originally from Athens, Hawkins lettered at Athens High School, where she was a three-time all-state selection. She pitched, played first base and third base for the Class 5A Eagles. She collected 253 hits, including 29 home runs and 170 RBI. On the mound, she totaled 75 wins with a 1.01 ERA.
She graduated UAH in 2014 with a degree in English and a minor in mathematics.
