Lisa Brooks, Head Softball Coach at Monroe University, is living her dream: building a winning program, shaping student-athletes, and redefining what leadership looks like for the next generation of women. Now in her third season at Monroe, Lisa is guiding a team that is not only competing at a high level but doing so with intention, resilience, and heart.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Lisa's path to Monroe has been anything but conventional. She played collegiate softball at Grambling State University before returning home to coach at Houston RBI, the same program she played in. From there, she coached high school athletes while working as a geometry teacher in Texas.

All the while, she was envisioning her own level up.

"I just thought, I want to go up from here and I want to coach college," she said.

Her next step was a big leap of faith. She left her high school coaching role mid-season to pursue a college opportunity at a university in Oklahoma before making another transition -- this time to lead the Monroe Mustangs all the way in New York.

At just 27 years old, Lisa stepped into the role of a college head softball coach. Now, three seasons in at Monroe, she has found her stride and her purpose.

"I feel like I'm exactly where I want to be," she said.

The transition to Monroe wasn't totally seamless, though. In her first season, she inherited a team she hadn't recruited -- a challenge for even the most seasoned collegiate-level coach. Yet that first group set the tone for her. Of the three sophomores on her first Monroe roster, all have since advanced to the Division I level, a testament to Lisa's ability to develop talent and support student-athletes beyond the field.

"As they learn from my girls, I learn from them every single day," she said. "They really make me a better coach."

Today, her roster reflects a wide-reaching recruitment strategy, with players from across the country and around the world, including Texas, Canada, and Australia. Despite a diverse group of women from all over, Lisa stays focused on building something deeper.

"I hope that the women who come through our program at Monroe leave here stronger and more confident and just ready to lead in whatever path that they choose," she said.

Lisa's coaching philosophy challenges traditional ideas of toughness in athletics. Rather than demanding perfection every time, she prioritizes authenticity, mental health, and team support.

"If you can only bring 30% that day, then bring the 30," she said. "And let your teammates pick you up."

This approach emphasizes deep trust and profound respect for her players and reverberates throughout the team culture as a whole.

"It's just bigger than softball," she said. "I'm trying to build the athlete up rather than breaking them down. That's where I'm trying to get to them."

Her approach is paying off. The team opened the season 6-0, the program's best start in a decade, and the Mustangs continue to compete at a high level this season. With a vision of advancing past regionals and reaching nationals, Lisa believes this could be a big season for Monroe women's softball.

"It's in my heart. This is the year," she said.

As Monroe University celebrates Women's History Month, Lisa sees her role as part of something larger than the game.

"When students or athletes see women in leadership roles, it reinforces the idea that their goals and ambitions are achievable," she said. "It shows young women that their voices matter and they belong in positions where decisions are made."

Raised in a family of strong women -- including a mother who earned her Ph.D. and an aunt who serves as a firefighter -- Lisa learned what leadership looks like early on.

Her foundation continues to shape how she leads her team today. Lisa believes coaching goes far beyond just learning how to play a game. Every practice and game is an opportunity to guide and motivate her players and to inspire them to become the best version of themselves they can be.

If she could offer one piece of advice to her younger self, it would be simple.

"Trust the journey, and keep my faith strong," she said.

For Lisa, a winning program is built on developing strong women, creating opportunities, and making space for others to rise. And if that space doesn't exist?

"When there's not a seat at the table," she said, "then you just pull up a chair."