Olivia Watkins | Associate Head Coach

Olivia Watkins was named an assistant coach on July 5, 2022, before being promoted to associate head coach on July 10, 2024. She enters her third season at Duke and will continue to coach the defense and slappers, while overseeing baserunning and the short game.

In her second season with the Blue Devils, Watkins was instrumental in guiding the Blue Devils to another record-setting season in 2024. Under her leadership, the Blue Devils developed three NFCA All-Americans in Claire Davidson, Aminah Vega and Jala Wright. As a team, Duke set a program record with a 52-9 overall ledger, captured its second ACC Championship, made its third straight NCAA Super Regional appearance and advanced to the Women's College World Series for the first time in program history.

With her assistance, the Blue Devils were stout on defense, holding opponents scoreless in 20-of-61 games during the 2024 campaign. The 20 shutouts ranked first in the ACC and fifth nationally. In 2023, Watkins was particularly impactful in the development of NFCA All-American D'Auna Jennings, a lefty slapper, who set single-season school records in batting average (.462) and hits (80).

For their efforts, Young and her coaching staff were named the 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Southeast Region Staff of the Year.

Watkins comes to Durham after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Boston College, where she worked on the defense, baserunning and slap-hitting.

Under Watkins’ guidance, the Eagles saw improvement during each of her three seasons in Chestnut Hill. Watkins was particularly impactful with the development of All-ACC outfielder Ellie Mataya, who batted over .350 in back-to-back seasons. The Eagles became an active team on the basepaths, improving their numbers from 11 stolen bases in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, to 21 in 2021 and 40 in 2022.

Prior to her time at Boston College, Watkins spent two seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth College, where she coached hitting, baserunning and infield defense. During her time with the Big Green, Dartmouth took home a share of the Ivy League title in 2018.

Watkins began her coaching career as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Illinois for two seasons (2016-17).

Watkins has been active in promoting diversity initiatives, serving as a member of the Boston College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. For her efforts, Watkins was awarded the 2021 NFCA Natasha Watley Scholarship for Social Change, which is awarded to a Black coach who has created educational or athletic opportunities for their community, has removed and overcome obstacles through social change, or has opened doors for growing the game of fastpitch for Black girls or women.

A 2015 graduate of Western Kentucky University with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and a concentration in science, Watkins had a standout softball career as a Hilltopper. A two-time NFCA All-Region and All-Sun Belt first team honoree, Watkins graduated as the program’s all-time leader in batting average (.380) and stolen bases (117).

Watkins also spent time in professional softball, as the first Western Kentucky alumni to sign with National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). Watkins played for the Akron Racers, Pennsylvania Rebellion and Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs.