After the unexpected departure of Jessie Taylor, National Park College named Autumn Wyatt as the new head softball coach for the Nighthawks.
Wyatt is the second coach of the college's softball program, which is starting its third year.
"Honestly, it's a great honor," Wyatt said. "I am really lucky that coach (Jason) Hudnell trusted me to this position and just a great opportunity. At the (junior college) level, you get to develop a lot of athletes; there is a lot of turnover. So every year, you kind of have a new team. It challenges you as a coach and challenges your athletes as well. So that's what I really liked about this level, and coming in, the girls welcomed me with open arms, and they just bought in immediately. So that's made the process super easy. So, I'm super excited."
A former NCAA Division II softball player at East Central University in Ada, Okla., Wyatt knows well what her players have been through, knowing that it is hard sometimes.
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"I know the struggle of going to class and going to practice, then going to weights, how it is a grind, especially at the junior college level," she said.
At the junior college level, the team does play more games, and the hours are long. Wyatt emphasizes the need for communication to determine how the players' bodies are feeling.
"I want to have a lot of open communication because I remember when I was a player, I did appreciate that," she said. "So that's what I want for them, just to have a good meaningful experience and then just pushing them and saying, 'Hey, I've been there. I know what winning the championship feels like. So I want you to have that same experience, and this is what it takes.'
"I've been through the challenges but also seeing the successes. I've also coached numerous levels, numerous institutions across the country. So I've learned a lot."
"I am really excited to welcome Coach Autumn Wyatt to Nighthawk Nation," Hudnell, NPC's athletic director, said. "She brings collegiate softball experience, both as a player and as a coach, as well as knowledge in college athletic administration. Our young ladies seem to have really connected with her in a short period of time. She will be a tremendous asset for us as we continue to build a championship-level softball program."
Wyatt spent two years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Academics at East Central, which allowed her to have some experience with budget and behind-the-scenes work. She also "served as an assistant coach for Franklin Pierce University and at Southern Arkansas University, where she helped lead the Muleriders to back-to-back NCAA postseason appearances, including the national semifinals, and earned 2018 NFCA Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors," according to a news release.
"It means everything to me," she said of her first head coaching position. "Coach Hudnell, I know took a chance on me. ... So it's really jumped starting my career as far as being in charge. So I'm grateful that he trusted me to this position. Everyone in Hot Springs as well as National Park has been welcoming and super helpful throughout this process, and the girls have welcomed me with open arms, and (I am) just excited to be back on the field."
One of Wyatt's biggest influences was Andy Klaus, her softball coach at East Central.
"He coached me for two years, and he really connected with me, made me feel seen and heard and special and took that time to build me as a player and as a person and actually kind of came full circle because I was able to be his assistant coach during his first head coaching gig. So, kind of giving back to the sport and just helping someone that helped me so much," she said.
Wyatt also hopes to bring some fun to the program as well.
"We're going to be an exciting team to watch," she said. "We're going to be loud. We're going to score a lot of runs. We're going to bring the energy -- things like that. I want a lot of people to come out and support us because it is going to be a good product on the field, and it's going to be entertaining to watch," she said.