MO'S MINDFUL SPORTS PERFORMANCE TRAINING COACHING STAFF

MONIQUE WHITE

Head Coach

Name

Monique White, a distinguished figure in the world of softball, served as the 2023 assistant softball coach for the Texas Smoke who dominated the 2023 season in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch league (WPF). With a rich and diverse background in the sport, Monique has made significant strides both on and off the field, carving a path filled with achievements and leadership milestones.

With 13+ years of coaching experience, she is currently serves as the Head Softball coach at Hampton University, following three successful years as an assistant coach at Georgetown University. Under her guidance, the softball team at Hampton University achieved remarkable success, earning the 2022-2023 CAA Team Academic Excellence Award, a testament to the harmonious blend of athletic prowess and academic dedication.

Monique’s relationship with softball dates back to her collegiate days. She showcased exceptional talent as a player, leaving an indelible mark at Daytona State College and Florida International University. As a player, she received multiple accolades, including being a two-time All-Sun Belt selection and earning the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year in 2007. Her record-breaking performance at Florida International University positioned her at the top of the school's history for the most home runs in a single season, a feat that underlines her unwavering commitment and skill on the field.

Beyond her playing career, Monique delved into coaching, making a global impact. Her coaching tenure in Sweden with the Soder softball program resulted in the team clinching its first-ever gold medal in the Swedish Softball Federation's 15-year history. Additionally, her contributions as an assistant coach for the Swedish National Team led to an impressive seventh-place finish out of 19 teams at the European Softball Championships, solidifying her coaching prowess on an international stage.

Monique's academic journey mirrors her athletic and coaching successes. She holds an Associate of Arts in communications from Daytona State College, a Bachelor of Science in journalism with a minor in marketing from Florida International University, and completed her master's degree in leadership from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2016. Her commitment to the game, paired with her dedication to academic excellence, is a testament to her multifaceted success and unwavering passion for the world of softball.

Driven by her passion for enhancing sports performance, Monique established Mo's Mindful Sport Performance Training LLC in Virginia, focusing on implementing mindful sport-specific training camps and clinics to foster athlete development.

A sought-after speaker and panelist, Monique has graced numerous coaching conventions, including the 2023 Mid-Atlantic Coaches Clinic, where she delved into the intricacies of Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement. Her active participation as a panelist at the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) conventions showcased her commitment to promoting diversity and leadership within the sport of softball.

ALYSSA RIVERA

Assistant Coach

Name

A native of Eagle Lake, Florida, Alyssa Rivera is a 2017 Gold Medalist for the USA Junior Women's National Team. She is also a 2019 Bronze Medalist for the Puerto Rico National Team, whom she is currently playing for. Rivera played for Auburn University from 2016-2021. During her time at Auburn, she became one of the most decorated hitters in program history. She is one of just six student athletes in program history to record at least 200 career hits, 120 RBI’s and 110 runs scored. She was tabbed by Softball America as one of the Top 100 Players of 2020, she also appeared in Softball America‘s 2020 Power Rankings, Number 2 and Number 10 respectively.

Academically, Rivera made Auburn University's Dean's List, All-SEC Academic Team, SEC Academic Honor Roll, and was named an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete.

Upon graduation, Rivera became a lead instructor for ProSwings, where she gave private hitting and defensive lessons. She also assisted with ProSwings college exposure camps and tournaments.

Rivera received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, while pursuing a minor in Entrepreneurship and Family Business in May of 2020 from Auburn University. Given her extra year of eligibility due to COVID, she received her second Bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing in May of 2021.

TRAVONNA BYRD

Assistant Coach

Name

HOMETOWN: Newport News, VA

EDUCATION: B.S., Hampton, 2012

COACHING:

A former player at Hampton University, Travonna Byrd returns to her alma mater as an assistant coach for the Pirates. As a player at Hampton from 2008-12, she was named team MVP in 2011 and earned the Coaches Award in 2012. She served as team captain her senior season.

A pitcher, the right-hander won 22 games in her Hampton career including 12 in her senior season. Byrd was named MEAC Pitcher of the Week on March 19, 2012 after making three starts on the mound and earned league accolades picking up three victories while yielding just 13 hits in 21 innings with a 0.97 ERA.

She coached in the high school ranks at West Potomac High and T.C. Williams High. In 2022, she was nominated for conference Coach of the Year honors while at West Potomac High. In 2023, she was named Coach of the Year at West Potomac High.

She attended Warwick High in Newport News, Va., where she was named to the Daily Press All-Star team. She also earned first-team all-district honors.

She graduated from Hampton in 2012 with a bachelor of science degree in Business Management.

 

 



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