Monica Harrison recently completed her eighth year at Carnegie Mellon University. She was hired to start the softball program in 2017, with the inaugural season in 2019.
The former four-year player at Bucknell, where she served as team captain, has been an active member of the NFCA since 2015, and serves on the Association's Board of Directors as its Access and Opportunity Representative.
Harrison 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?
Spend time getting to know each other. We want to break down barriers to make it a welcoming environment first. Our first practice is always a scrimmage. Let's just play sandlot-style pickup.
What one characteristic must every person who plays for you have?
Passion!
Why did you get into coaching?
I felt like I could make more of an impact working with people than in finance and investment banking.
What is the most difficult part of being a coach?
Bringing together 20+ people who have different life experiences and different needs. We want to acknowledge and grow their individuality and bring them all together for a common goal.
What is the most rewarding thing about being a coach?
The expanded family I have! The team is my family and I love seeing them grow and what they go on to become!
If you could have dinner with three other sports figures from any time in history, who would they be?
Branch Rickey (GM of the Brooklyn Dodgers who signed Jackie Robinson), Danny Murtaugh (coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates), Pat Summit (Tennessee women's basketball).
What is the one thing in life or coaching you won’t compromise on?
God!
What is the one thing you personally feel you need to have to succeed as a coach?
Autonomy and support. I want to know that I can manage the team and make decisions and have support from my staff and administration in alignment of the vision of the program.
How do you define success?
Winning, but the right way. I think you can do it all — win AND care for and develop on a deep level thoughtful and impactful beings.
What makes a great coaching staff?
All members being committed to growth. Being able to trust each other to have the hard conversations and workshop things in the office. I know I am not the greatest softball mind and I want to lean on my staff to bring other ideas to the table.
What is the most important thing you’ve learned from a loss?
EVERYTHING! I am very technical and analytical, so I will replay losses in my mind to unpack any nuggets to make me and the team better.
What is a goal you have for YOURSELF over the next 12 months?
I would like to be the first Black head coach to win a national championship.
What is an objective you have set for your TEAM?
To be an ultimate competitor. I feel that sometimes women default to contextualizing their abilities and skills to those around them and I want our team to have a standard of competition that is the same no matter who the opponent is.
What would be an area in your coaching you’d like to improve?
Utilizing technology more seamlessly in practice and development. We practice a lot indoors and I think technology could enhance our training.
What would you want a former player to say about you?
That I cared and supported them no matter what. It's more than the Xs and Os of softball.
What do you feel is the most important thing a coach can provide to their players?
A safe space for growth. We have to give them room to fail and know that we will be there to help them pick up the pieces. We have to get them used to taking risks.
How would you describe your coaching style/philosophy?
Passionate, energetic, caring, all while maintaining a high standard of excellence.
What piece of advice would you give a fellow coach?
Be authentic. Show your team the human side of you. You have knowledge to share more than just softball skills and they trust you.
What do you do for fun in your downtime?
I don't have much personal downtime because any time away from my team is spent with my kiddos ... lots of gymnastics practices and Pokemon and BeyBlade battles.
What would someone be surprised to learn about you?
I have a very high level of attention to detail. I have systems and processes for everything and EVERYTHING exists on a spreadsheet.
