Mandie Nocita will begin her ninth season as head softball coach for the Beavers in 2023.
Nocita has taken the program to heights not seen since the 1990s as she led the 2022 team to its first regular season conference title since 1996 as well as its first NCAA Regional Tournament berth, while being named the American Rivers Conference Coach of the Year. Through eight seasons, she has compiled an overall record of 148-130 (50-64 A-R-C), including notching her 100th win during the COVID shortened 2020 season.
The Beavers have had 16 all-conference selections, 8 All-Region honorees and one First Team Capital One Academic All-District player in Nocita’s tenure; highlighted by Nataliah Murillo’s selection as 2022 ARC Position Player of the Year.
After arriving on campus in 2015, Nocita helped turn the program around and coach it to its best five-year run in 20 years from 2015-2019. The Beavers posted three straight 20-win campaigns during that span (2016-18) for the first time since 1998-99 and qualified into the conference tournament twice (2015 and 2016). Her sixth season (2020) was halted after the first 12 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nocita's 18 wins during her rookie season in 2015 was the program's highest single-season total since 2001. In her second season, BVU went 20-16 and placed third in the conference with a 7-5 mark.
In eight years, the team has set numerous school statistical records in a show of power and speed. Her Beaver teams have hit over 124 home runs, including a school-record 23 in 2017 and 2022. The team's highest single-season total before her arrival was 19 back in 2011. They have also recorded 5 of the top 6 marks for doubles in her time at the helm. Not to be outdone by the power numbers, the program has assaulted the stolen base record books as well, logging 6 of the top 10 seasons all time including the top all-time mark with an astounding 95 stolen bases in 2021.
Coach Nocita has been a staple across the Midwest as a highly sought after clinician and camp coordinator. She has worked with the top Club Organizations and high schools in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri throughout each of the past 15 summers. Her numerous connections in the softball community have led to multiple chances to both serve the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and NCAA in leadership roles and on select committees.Â
She has been invited to serve as a Coach for a USA represented team in 2016 and 2018 with the AIST organization and has taken over 50 athletes abroad to multiple destinations, including 6 BVU student-athletes.
A 2009 graduate of Missouri Western State, Nocita returned to her alma mater in 2011 where she served as an assistant coach for four years. During her time as a coach with the Griffons, they went a combined 159-62 (73-23 MIAA), including a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament championship in 2014. They also captured a regular season title in 2011 and have made three NCAA Tournament trips (2011, 2012, 2014).
Nocita was a four-year starter at third base during her playing days with the Griffons and turned in a stand-out career. She was a three-time Honorable Mention All-MIAA performer and is in the record book for several Griffon career and single-season records. She is first in school history in runs (172) and stolen bases (82) and sits in the top-3 in games played (234), at-bats (748), hits (228) and doubles (50). As a senior, she was an instrumental part in helping lead the Griffons to an MIAA record 32 straight wins and was the 2008-09 Missouri Western Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
Prior to returning to her alma mater to begin a career in coaching, she spent nearly two years in the business field serving as an Internet Marketing Specialist at St. Joseph Cablevision. She then went on to earn her master’s degree in Kinesiology; Sport Management from Central Missouri in 2013.
A native of Omaha, Neb., she and her two dogs, Milo and Lucy reside in Storm Lake.
