Lisa Navas joined the University of South Florida softball program in 2022 as an assistant coach, bringing decades of experience as both a head coach and elite defensive instructor. In her first season with the Bulls, Navas served as a volunteer assistant, contributing across multiple areas including hitting, catching, defensive alignments, and advanced scouting. Widely respected for her defensive expertise, she added veteran insight and technical precision to a program with sustained postseason ambitions under head coach Ken Eriksen.
Prior to arriving at USF, Navas spent nine seasons as associate head coach at the University of South Carolina, where she helped guide the Gamecocks to seven NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Super Regional berth in 2018. Her defensive impact was evident throughout her tenure, highlighted by a program-record .979 fielding percentage in 2018 and consistent year-over-year improvements in team defense and double plays turned. Earlier in her career, Navas was the inaugural head coach at NC State, where she built the program from the ground up beginning in 2004, leading the Wolfpack to ACC regular-season and tournament titles in 2006 and multiple NCAA appearances. She also enjoyed a highly successful Division II head coaching run at Barry University, posting a .714 winning percentage and reaching the NCAA finals. In addition to her collegiate résumé, Navas has coached professionally and serves as an assistant coach for the USA Softball U-18 Women’s National Team. A former collegiate standout at Oklahoma City University, she brings championship-level experience, defensive excellence, and national-team credibility to the Bulls’ coaching staff.
