Tonya Medders

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord... Col. 3:23 ❤️ #enthusiastically @Meg_Hill22

Transactional vs. Transformational Coaching… Dan Hurley shared a story about asking Geno Auriemma for advice after a rough start last season. Geno didn’t mince words: “Listen, if the only gratification and the only part of coaching that excites you is winning the national championship, then you’ve lost your way, buddy! Where’s the joy in the things that you’ve always been about as a coach before you went on the championship run, like relationships with your players, like helping people get better, like making your team the best it can be. Be a coach, man. This is when you really need to be a leader. This team isn’t as good as last year’s, so what the hell are you going to do about it? Are you going home? Are you going to let this thing unravel?” That’s the tension every coach feels: Transactional vs. Transformational. Transactional coaching is outcome-obsessed. It’s about the wins, the losses, the trophies. The problem? When results don’t come, your purpose crumbles with them. Transformational coaching is different. It’s about people. It’s about growth. It’s about building something that lasts, whether the scoreboard agrees with you or not. And this is why mentorship matters so much in coaching. Left on our own, it’s easy to drift into a transactional mode without even realizing it. A trusted mentor can pull us back to center and remind us why we started coaching in the first place. To build relationships. To develop players as people. To make teams the best they can be. Wins matter. But they’re not the why. The why is impact. The why is growth. The why is leaving your players better than you found them. The process is the prize. Stay grounded. Stay on the path. Always remember your why.

New decoration added to T’s House 💯 #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Compete.

She’s just getting started 🗣️ Alyssa Davenport earns her first collegiate weekly award being named @BigSouthSports Freshman of the Week! #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Dominated in the Lone Star, carrying it to the Palmetto 🌳 Kenzei Bernal-Mahagan is your @BigSouthSports Co-Player of the Week! #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Trio ⭕️ work #SpartanArmy ⚔️

We have THIS diving catch on repeat! 🔁 #NCAASoftball #SCTop10 x 🎥 ESPN+ / @UpstateSoftball

Built by hard work, powered by confidence. Celebrating girls & women in sports today and always! #NGWSD #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Running it back on ESPNU for the sixth straight year, Upstate Softball's Big South series finale against Gardner-Webb will be nationally televised at 4:00 P.M. EST. brnw.ch/21wZB0a #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Represented well in Preseason 📈 Preseason Player of the Year: Taliyah Thomas Preseason All-Conference: Taliyah Thomas Carson Shaw Maddie Drerup Abby Polk Sophia Kardatzke Picked #2 in Preseason Poll #SpartanArmy ⚔️

⏳ #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Finally official!! @PACKUPSTATE @HawkinsChawkins @Coach_TMeds @jwint11

So excited for this journey! @UpstateSoftball @FLImpactYates

Officially official! @UpstateSoftball @PACKUPSTATE @Coach_TMeds @jwint11

From day one to D1😉 Thank you to everyone for supporting me throughout the years, here’s to the next 4 💚 @PACKUPSTATE @Coach_TMeds @HawkinsChawkins @jwint11 @UpstateSoftball @HallHitters @USCUpstate

It’s official 🖤💚 @PACKUPSTATE @Coach_TMeds @HawkinsChawkins @jwint11 @JMBP_theONLYONE @tori_polk22 @BEP_Polk @CoachSweeting @UpstateSoftball

We are excited for our 2026 signing class as they prepare for their next chapter at Upstate! Read more about the signing class officially announced today: brnw.ch/21wXrbG #SpartanArmy ⚔️

Congratulations to our next 2027 off the board!! Our RH Pitcher #00 Mackenzie Melton (@meltonfastpitch) has committed to the University of South Carolina Upstate‼️ LET'S GO MACK!!!💪 @UpstateSoftball got a 🥎STUD! We can't wait to watch you play at Cyrill Stadium‼️ We are so proud of you Mack‼️ #represent #BeTheStandard #ViperNation GO SPARTANS!! #SpartanArmy ⚔️ @HawkinsChawkins @PACKUPSTATE @Coach_TMeds @jwint11 @thevipernation @VipersGonce @SoftbalAmerica @ExtraInningSB @LegacyLegendsS1 @LineDsoftball @PrepSoftball @IHartFastpitch @CoastRecruits @CoastRecruitsSB @TopPreps @SBRRetweets

I am excited to announce my verbal commitment to further my academic and athletic career at the University of South Carolina Upstate! Thank you to my parents, coaches, teammates and everyone who has supported me in this journey. Next🆙= Big South Conference! LET'S GO SPARTANS!! #SpartanArmy ⚔️ @UpstateSoftball @HawkinsChawkins @PACKUPSTATE @Coach_TMeds @jwint11 @thevipernation @VipersGonce @NCHS_Athletics_ @SoftbalAmerica @ExtraInningSB @LegacyLegendsS1 @LineDsoftball @PrepSoftball @IHartFastpitch @CoastRecruits @CoastRecruitsSB @TopPreps @SBRRetweets

Perfecting the craft 🧩 #SpartanArmy ⚔️