Gardner-Webb University Athletics

Mackenzi Steele Zuppas was promoted to Associate Head Coach in July of 2024 after two seasons as Assistant and Pitching Coach for GWU. She joined the Runnin' Bulldogs softball staff after a stint as the volunteer assistant at the University of Nebraska in 2022. 

Gardner-Webb has amassed 53 wins over the last two seasons including a 33-20 record in 2024. This was the winningest record by GWU softball since the 2007 season when the 'Dawgs posted a record of 35-27. Additionally, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished fifth overall in the Big South for the highest finish in the conference since the 2012 season.
 
The 2024 season saw the GWU pitching staff post a team ERA of 2.97 with Andrea Lyon, Kalyn Kyle, and Elle Doolittle each having career seasons in the circle under the guidance of Steele Zuppas.

During her time with the Huskers, Steele helped the program to a Big Ten Tournament title – the first since the school joined the league in 2011 – and an NCAA Tournament berth. Nebraska finished with a 41-16 overall recurd and went 17-5 against Big Ten competition. Steele, who threw batting practice last season while on staff, was part of a coaching staff that was named 2022 NFCA Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year – learning from some of the sport's greatest minds in Rhonda Revelle, Lori Sippel and Dianne Miller. She assisted in all aspects of the game, including bullpens, scouting, hitting, team practices, individual workouts, game operations and game strategy.

Before moving into the volunteer role, Steele served as the graduate assistant at Nebraska for two years. She earned a master's degree in higher education administration and finished with a stellar 3.95 grade point average. 

As a student-athlete, Steele finished her playing career at Howard University in Washington, D.C. She also played ta Daytona State College and Appalachian State before joining the Bison program. As a senior, she helped lead Howard to their first conference tournament win and highest tournament finish in nine seasons. She pitched 317 innings over two seasons at Howard in 73 appearances. She finished with a 3.63 grade point average with honors and an undergraduate degree in sports management.

Steele has given private pitching lessons since 2014 and has worked with pitchers all over the Virginia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Nebraska areas. The Winchester, Va., native has trained pitchers currently playing at all levels of college softball, including the Power 5. Steele is also a Tincher Certified pitching instructor and plans to continue up to date on the latest pitching philsophies and techniques.