West Virginia State University Athletics

Mattie Best enters her eighth year as the Head Softball Coach at West Virginia State University in 2025-2026.

Best was named Interim Head Softball Coach in August of 2017 and was appointed the permanent head coach by the end of the calendar year. She spent three seasons as the Assistant Softball Coach at WVSU under current Associate Director of Athletics Kerri Blackwell prior to taking over the Yellow Jackets softball program.

The Hemet, Calif. native was a four-year starter at West Virginia State from 2011 until 2014. She was a member of two WVIAC Tournament runner-up teams (2011, 2012), two NCAA Regional teams (2012, 2013), and the last WVIAC Tournament championship team in 2013.

Best is the all-time leader in doubles (67) and triples (13) at WVSU. She played in 218 games during her four years at West Virginia State and recorded a career batting average of .371.

Best earned a Bachelor’s in Sports Science from WVSU in December of 2014 and will complete her Master’s in Sports Studies by May of 2020.