Boo De Oliveira is in her second season as an assistant coach at the University of Notre Dame after many years as a Division I assistant at Arkansas, Arizona State, North Carolina and Purdue. She also spent time as Purdue’s head coach.

Following a highly-successful playing career at the University of Wisconsin, the former Florida high school Player of the Year got her start in coaching not far from her alma mater at Division III’s Edgewood College and NJCAA’s Madison Area Technical College.

A longtime member of the NFCA Board of Directors, De Oliveira took a few minutes to answer 20 questions for the NFCA …

What is the very first thing you do with your team when starting a new season?
It’s important to make sure everyone is on the same page with core values, standards and goals. The team needs to know where we are going and how we are going to get there together.

What one characteristic must every person who plays for you have?
Grit … You have to be tough and selfless. I want athletes with heart, passion, and a quick failure recovery.

Why did you get into coaching?
I knew from a young age, around age eight, I think, that I wanted to be a coach. I always knew I wanted to be a really good wife, mom and coach. I got into coaching because I absolutely loved the game and felt obligated to give back to the game that had given me so much.

What is the most difficult part of being a coach?
Currently, as a mom of three littles ones (Mila, 9, Nico 5, Nora Beth, 2), being away from my husband and our kids is the most difficult part of coaching for me. I have severe “mom guilt” every day. It takes a supportive partner and a village to be a coach and a parent.

Also, it is obviously difficult to manage your lineup and playing time. Keeping measurements/data is crucial so you can make the best lineup and have data that shows who should or should not be playing and the best ways to construct your lineup and manage your roster in-game.

What is the most rewarding thing about being a coach?
The most rewarding part of being a coach is helping to grow your athletes into warriors that can go into life confidently after graduation. I love when I get invited to weddings, receive updates about former athlete’s kids, etc. I always hope the impact I make as a coach goes well past their four years of NCAA eligibility.

If you could have dinner with three other coaches from any time in history, who would they be?

Gary Fitzpatrick – One of my favorite travel ball coaches (Lady Gators – Palm Beach, Fla.) who passed away in 2025. He was the most generous, funniest and most real person. He had a great baseball and softball mind. He always kept me grounded, supported me, challenged me and loved me. I miss him dearly.

John Wooden – His ability to coach, lead and love is unbelievable. I would enjoy being a sponge listening to him talk.

Pat Summit – I admire that Coach Summit was not only a champion coach, but a champion mother. She paved the way for so many. She was brilliant on the court. She never let coaching be an excuse for not being a good mom and never let being a good mom be an excuse for not being a good coach.

What is the one thing in life or coaching you won’t compromise on?

I won’t compromise on my faith and my family. When I go to bed each night, I always want to know I was a good Christian and a good wife/mom. I am replaceable at work; I am not replaceable to my family.

What is the one thing you personally feel you need to have to succeed as a coach?
I feel you need to have “your people” … the ones you really trust. The ones who will challenge you to be better, support you when you need it, who call you out when you’re wrong, who forgive you, who you can learn from, who let you vent and then help you get back on track. The ones who know you in and out, and love you regardless. No jealousy, no judgment, just honesty, love, growth and support. It’s hard to find this “circle of trust,” but once you have these people, don’t ever let them go.

How do you define success?
At home, success is raising our kids to be good humans who will make a positive impact on the world. My most important title is mom.

At work, I define success as helping each student-athlete reach their full potential, doing things the right way, graduating everyone, building impactful relationships with student-athletes and of course winning! Everyone wants to win!

What makes a great coaching staff?
Great coaching staffs have a combination of great minds, that challenge each other to be better, support each other, relate to/connect to student-athletes in various ways, can be the head coach in their area, who don’t care who gets the credit for success, who work well together, and who become “work family.”

What is the most important thing you’ve learned from a loss?
(Legendary talent evaluator) Derek Allister once told me, “Celebrate the wins longer and move on from the losses faster.” That has always stuck with me. Choose post-game words to your team wisely – you can’t take them back once you “word vomit” on your team. The rest of the world doesn’t care about the loss of a game as much as you do, so don’t make your family and friends miserable after a loss. They’re the ones that support you always.

What is a goal you have for YOURSELF over the next 12 months?
I want to be the best version of myself at work and at home – I want to be the best wife and mom I can be and make sure my family knows they are my top priority and I love them deeply. I want to be the healthiest version of myself, too. They truly are my everything and I want to be my best self for them. I want to coach free, fearless, to continue to develop/grow professionally, and know at the end of the season that I coached how I wanted to coach, I made a positive impact, I helped bring out the best in our team, and I gave us the best chance to be successful. I feel blessed to “get to” coach and I make that a daily focus to stay present in the moment.

What is an objective you have set for your TEAM this season?
Live our S.W.A.G. standards on and off the field. Compete one pitch at a time every game and leave it all out on the field.

What would be an area in your coaching you’d like to improve?
I am continually trying to improve my tech skills and incorporating technology into my coaching. We are coaching a generation that is very “techy,” and if we aren’t up with the times (pitching tech, hitting tech, data use, scouting, etc.), we are not using our resources to the fullest.

What would you want a former player to say about you?
I would want them to say I made them better on and off the field, they felt like they mattered, and they knew I loved them.

What do you feel is the most important thing a coach can provide to their players?
Belief. It is crazy how much student-athletes can accomplish when they know you believe in them. Sometimes, many times, coaches have to believe in their team more than their team believes in themselves. You have to see the success before they can see it or achieve it. I also believe honest/direct communication is huge. When student-athletes know where they stand — in terms of what the team needs from them and what their role in the team’s success will be — it is easier for them to rock their role.

How would you describe your coaching style/philosophy?

My coaching style is high-energy, positive and scrappy. I hope to bring the best out of student-athletes. I want to make the game fun and, of course, to win on and off the field. I love being their biggest hype woman. I believe in player-led, not coach-fed teams. I want women to turn into warriors and know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

What piece of advice would you give a fellow coach?
Remember that you “get to” coach. Don’t take a day on the field for granted. It’s the best job in the world, but, coaching is not all that you are. Make time for you, for your family, and for your friends. I don’t think there will ever be true work-life balance as a coach, but be present in the moment. Be the best where your feet are in that moment.

Another piece of advice – sunscreen … wear lots of sunscreen and cover up. This job is a rough one. “Rays today, raisins tomorrow people!” 

What do you do for fun in your downtime?
In my downtime, I want to be with my family and friends. Any time I can be my husband and kids’ biggest fan at whatever they are doing, that’s where I want to be.

What would someone be surprised to learn about you?

When I was a kid, I cried on the way to the ballfield every … single … game. Once I got there, I was fine and loved it, but I drove my mom nuts. Thank goodness my folks kept me in softball. It all worked out for the best.