Kayla Watkins enters her seventh season at Southeastern University in 2026, having firmly established the Fire as one of the NAIA’s most consistent softball programs. Under her leadership, Southeastern has produced six consecutive winning seasons and four straight trips to the NAIA postseason, highlighted by a return to the NAIA Softball World Series in 2022. Watkins ranks second in program history in both wins and winning percentage, compiling a 208–94 (.689) record at SEU through six seasons, and enters the 2026 campaign with a 231–118 (.662) career record as a head coach.

In 2025, Watkins once again guided the Fire to the NAIA National Tournament and back to the Sun Conference Tournament behind one of the most complete teams in program history. Southeastern finished 42–11 overall with 14 wins over ranked opponents and a dominant 20–2 record at home. The Fire featured one of the nation’s top pitching staffs, posting a 1.58 team ERA, while an explosive offense fueled consistent pressure throughout the season.

The season included multiple historic moments, as Southeastern secured the program’s first wins over No. 6 Georgia Gwinnett with a series sweep and handed No. 17 St. Thomas its first two home losses of the year. A second-place finish at the Sun Conference Tournament earned the Fire an at-large bid to the NAIA National Opening Round. Nine Fire athletes earned All-Sun Conference recognition, led by Chapel Cunningham as Player of the Year, Maria Zelenka as Pitcher of the Year, and Hailey Bradley as Freshman of the Year. In Opening Round play at Klamath Falls, Oregon, the second-seeded Fire went 2–2, falling twice to Midland to conclude the season. Following the year, Zelenka and Cunningham were named NAIA Third-Team All-Americans, with Cunningham also earning CSC Academic All-America honors. Watkins recorded her 200th career head coaching victory in a 3–2 win over RV Grand View University.

The Fire continued their postseason run in 2024, earning another at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament after turning in a 40–19 season and a 14–7 mark in Sun Conference play. Southeastern finished the year ranked No. 25 nationally with four wins over ranked opponents and advanced to the Sun Conference Tournament championship game. The Fire appeared in the NAIA Opening Round before falling in an elimination game to top-seeded Eastern Oregon. Chapel Cunningham capped her season with NAIA Second-Team All-America, NFCA NAIA Second-Team All-America, and CSC Academic All-America honors.

Southeastern secured its third straight NAIA postseason appearance in 2023 after a strong regular season and runner-up finish at the Sun Conference Tournament. The Fire posted a 31–14 regular-season record and advanced to the NAIA Opening Round Ashland Bracket in Ashland, Oregon, alongside eventual national champion Southern Oregon. Southeastern concluded the season 33–18 overall and 19–5 in conference play.

The 2022 campaign marked a turning point for the program, as Watkins guided the Fire back to the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time in six years. Southeastern claimed the Sun Conference regular season championship and won the Lawrenceville Bracket of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round, setting program records for wins in a season and stolen bases. Watkins was named Sun Conference Coach of the Year, with eight Fire athletes earning All-Conference honors. Jamie Mead was selected as the Sun Conference Player of the Year, while Riley Sanders earned both Sun Conference and NFCA Freshman of the Year recognition.

During the 2021 season, the Fire recorded eight wins over NAIA Top-20 opponents, continuing the program’s upward trajectory. Britt Robinson, Erica Stahl, and Katie Atkins were named First Team All-Sun Conference selections, Megan Froehlich earned Sun Conference Champion of Character honors, and seven student-athletes were recognized on the Academic All-Sun Conference Team.

Prior to her arrival in Lakeland, Watkins spent two seasons as the top assistant coach at Southern Miss, overseeing the pitching staff as the Golden Eagles led Conference USA with a 2.34 team ERA. The staff featured C-USA Pitcher of the Year Abby Trahan, who led the conference with a 1.95 ERA. Watkins also served as head coach at Bryan College, guiding the Lions to a 15–5 record in Appalachian Athletic Conference play and a conference co-championship.

Away from the diamond, Watkins has been actively involved in mentoring young women through Bible studies at the college, young adult, and high school levels and previously served as an FCA sponsor. Her commitment to leadership and personal development has remained a consistent element of her coaching philosophy throughout her career.

As a student-athlete at Samford and Mississippi College, Watkins posted a .330 career batting average and compiled a 38–14 record with a 1.54 ERA in the circle. She ranks third all-time in Mississippi College history in career ERA and recorded 30 doubles at the plate. Watkins earned two all-conference selections, was named conference newcomer of the year, and achieved CoSIDA Academic All-America honors during her collegiate career.

Year	Institution	Record	Postseason / Notes
2017	Bryan	23–24	AAC Regular Season Co-Champions
2020	SEU	12–11	Season shortened due to COVID-19
2021	SEU	29–22	Sun Conference – 7th Place
2022	SEU	52–13	Sun Tournament Champions · NAIA World Series (4th)
2023	SEU	33–18	Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round
2024	SEU	40–19	Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round
2025	SEU	42–11	Sun Tournament Runner-Up · NAIA Opening Round