Softball Welcomes Karlie Milburn as New Assistant Coach
Ada, Okla. – East Central University head softball coach
Autumn Wyatt is excited to announce the addition of
Karlie Milburn as the program's new assistant coach heading into the 2025-26 season. A highly respected figure in collegiate softball, Milburn brings a diverse and dynamic background in player development, mental performance, and championship-level coaching to the Tigers.
"I'm so excited to add someone with Karlie's experience and knowledge to our staff," said Wyatt. "Her passion for the game and developing young women was evident from the first time we spoke. Our pitching staff is in great hands and I'm so happy to welcome Karlie back to Ada!"
Milburn joins ECU after a standout season at Southern Arkansas University, where she helped lead the Muleriders to a GAC Regular Season and Tournament Championship, a regional finalist appearance, and guided a dominant pitching staff that posted a 1.60 ERA. Under her direction, the team earned 10 GAC Pitcher of the Week honors, 4 National Pitcher of the Week honors, and saw standout Brinson Rogers collect multiple accolades including GAC Pitcher of the Year, GAC Female Athlete of the Year, D2CCA Central Region Pitcher of the Year, and NFCA DII Pitcher of the Year.
"First, I want to thank God for the opportunities and the paths that have led me back to Ada," said Milburn. "Every step of the journey has been incredible. Being able to serve and pour back into the game that has given me so much is truly a blessing. With some of my roots here, I'm so grateful to be back in the great state of Oklahoma."
"I'm beyond grateful and incredibly honored to step into the role of assistant softball coach at East Central University, a place that holds such a special place in my heart. My collegiate journey began here in 2016–2017, and I will forever be thankful for the opportunity that started it all. ECU wasn't just where I developed as an athlete; it's where I found my faith, my confidence, and my passion for something bigger than myself. The yellow ball has taken me to places I never dreamed possible, but no matter where the game led me, my heartstrings were always tugging me back to Ada."
Her coaching success is nothing new. Milburn's previous coaching roles include stints at Kenyon College, Florida Gulf Coast Collegiate League, and most recently, serving as Head Coach in the Lone Star State Collegiate Softball League, where she was named 2024 Coach of the Year after leading her team to the league's inaugural championship. She was instrumental in the development of the league's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.
At the University of Michigan, Milburn served as a graduate assistant for the Wolverines' softball program while also working as an athletic counselor, providing performance support, post-injury guidance, and mental health education to athletes across a wide range of sports. Her unique experience in mental performance coaching continues to be a cornerstone of her approach.
A former collegiate athlete herself, Milburn began her playing career at East Central University before transferring to Tarleton State University, where she competed until 2020 while earning a Bachelor of Science in Sport Management. She later earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, with a concentration in Interpersonal Practice in Integrated Health, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse, and completed a clinical placement with Michigan's Athletic Counseling Team.
"Coming back to this program, the one that helped shape who I am today, is more than a full-circle moment," said Milburn. "I'm deeply excited to serve, support, and love on a group of young women who are walking the same path I once did."
"It's also a true privilege to work alongside coach
Autumn Wyatt, a leader whose success speaks for itself, but whose authenticity and heart truly set her apart. Her passion, integrity, and belief in the power of relationships, and in simply empowering young women, are incredible. From our first phone call, I knew our visions for developing and building a strong foundation for the East Central softball program aligned in such a natural way. I couldn't be more excited to learn from her, grow alongside her, and help build something special with our new Tiger staff."
"Here's to the journey ahead. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger."
