Courtesy of Hampton Athletics
Cat Tarvin, who spent the last four years as head softball coach at North Carolina Central University, has been named the head coach at Hampton University, it was announced by Director of Athletics Anthony D. Henderson Sr.
“The hiring of Cat Tarvin marks the beginning of a new and promising chapter in Hampton softball history,” Henderson said. “Cat brings a wealth of experience that spans across multiple levels of the sport. As a player, she has a firsthand understanding of the game, which is invaluable for relating to and mentoring the team. Her time as an assistant coach has provided her with a strong foundation in strategy, player development, and game management. Moreover, her role as a head coach at both the collegiate and professional levels demonstrates her leadership abilities and ability to manage and build a successful program. With her comprehensive background, skill set, and proven track record, Cat is well-equipped to elevate our program and establish Hampton Softball as a consistent winner in the highly competitive Coastal Athletic Association (CAA). We are excited about the future and confident that our team will achieve new heights under her guidance.”
Tarvin led the program at North Carolina Central for four years of progress and improvement. She served as interim head coach of the Eagles in 2021 after working as an assistant coach for three seasons. The interim tag was removed in 2022.
On her new position, Tarvin said, “I am beyond excited to be coming to Hampton. It is a program that has a tradition of success. I’ve been a player, worked as a G.A., assistant, and head coach, and have learned a lot over the years. I’m looking forward to using this knowledge to build the program at Hampton. The resources are here to win at Hampton. I am eager to put my stamp on the program.”
In her four seasons as head coach, Tarvin led the Eagles to a winning record in league play and ushered in the most successful era in North Carolina Central’s Division I era.
Her teams showed steady improvement and became a dominant force in the MEAC. North Carolina Central’s overall win totals improved from 13 in 2021 to 20 this past season. In addition, her team posted winning conference records in three of her four years at the helm. The Eagles were 14-7 in MEAC play in 2024.
Tarvin was named the MEAC Coach of the Year in 2023 after leading the Eagles 12-7 league record. She earned Most Outstanding Coach honors at the 2023 MEAC Championship as the Eagles won four games to claim their first-ever MEAC Championship. The Eagles earned a bid to the NCAA Softball Regionals in Athens, Ga., another first for the program.
The team’s improvement can be traced to her successful recruiting efforts and her skill and talent as a teacher of the game in building the program. In her four seasons as head coach, Tarvin has produced 18 All-MEAC honorees, including five in 2024 when the Eagles finished third in the MEAC Championships.
She inherited a program that had not posted a winning record in 17 seasons and had an overall record of 136-484 (.219) since 2007. North Carolina Central posted only two winning seasons in league play during that span when Tarvin was an assistant coach (2018 and 2019). She also mentored Makiya Graves, the 2023 MEAC Player of the Year.
The Lawrenceville, Ga., native was a successful player in her own right. After spending two years at Kennesaw State, she transferred to Presbyterian, where she finished her career. Tarvin was named team MVP as a senior and second-team All-Big South as a utility player after batting .316 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, and 31 RBI. At Kennesaw State, she was named to the Big South All-Freshman team and was team co-captain as a sophomore. As a pitcher, she won 15 games during her career.
Tarvin is spending her summer as head coach of the Texas Smoke in the WPF. She served as an assistant coach last season, helping lead the team to the WPF championship. She also gained professional coaching experience as a player, instructor, and coach of the Georgia Elite Gold Softball travel team. Tarvin has also worked as a camp instructor at both Duke and Tennessee, as a pitching coach at Innocents Episcopal School, and as a private instructor.
She graduated from Presbyterian in 2013 with a degree in sociology. She earned a master’s degree in Physical Education and Recreation from North Carolina Central with an emphasis in Athletic Administration in 2019 while serving as an assistant coach for the Eagles.
Tarvin has a daughter, Charlie Rose.
