RALEIGH, N.C. – Shaw University Athletics has announced the hiring of Theresa Stephens as the new head coach of the Shaw University softball program.
Stephens brings more than two decades of coaching experience across all levels of collegiate softball, along with a decorated career as a former Division I student-athlete and professional player.
A seasoned leader and mentor, Stephens previously served as head coach at North Carolina Central University, Meredith College, and assistant coach at Division I programs including North Carolina A&T State University, Campbell University, and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has also coached at William Peace University, Needham B. Broughton High School, and Greensboro College.
Throughout her career, Stephens has established a reputation for fostering strong team cultures and developing competitive programs. Her coaching résumé includes leading teams to multiple conference championships and NCAA postseason appearances, highlighted by:
- 2021 MEAC Southern Division Championship and Conference Tournament appearance
- 2009 and 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Championships at Campbell University
- 2008 Peach Belt Conference Regular Season and Tournament Championships
- 2008 NCAA Division II Regional appearance and host designation
- 2008 Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors
"I am truly honored to lead the Shaw University softball program," said Stephens. "This is a tremendous opportunity to build something special for our student-athletes and the Shaw community. My goal is to create a culture of integrity, discipline, and excellence that represents the proud tradition of Shaw University."
In addition to her extensive coaching background, Stephens has earned recognition for her leadership and contributions to the sport. In 2023, she completed the Major League Baseball Scouting & Coaching Diversity Pipeline Program, where she was one of only 50 participants selected from more than 600 applicants and one of just two African-American women chosen nationally. That same year, she was inducted into the Phoenixville Area Sports Hall of Fame.
As a student-athlete, Stephens was a standout performer at South Carolina State University and Temple University, earning First Team All-MEAC and Onnidan All-American honors in 1999, along with an invitation to the 1998 Olympic Team Trials. She went on to play professionally for the Pennsylvania Royal Ladies and Pennsylvania Haze.
Stephens holds a Master of Science in Sports Management and a Certification in Athletic Administration from Southern New Hampshire University, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Temple University and completed the MLB Scouting and Coaching Pipeline Program in 2023.
