Tennessee State University

Tennessee State University Athletics
 3500 John A. Merritt Boulevard Nashville, TN 37209
Division 1 Tennessee Southeast
Public Medium National competitor
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Coaches

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Genee McRath

Genee McRath enters her fourth season as head coach of the Tennessee State University softball team in 2024-25, continuing to build a program that has experienced a resurgence under her leadership.


McRath was hired by TSU as an assistant coach in the fall of 2019 and took over as head coach before the 2022 season. In her first year as head coach, McRath led the Tigers to a 15-39 overall record and a 6-22 mark in conference play. The 2023 season saw a significant improvement as TSU finished with a 22-26-1 overall record and a 12-11 conference record, marking the program's first 20+ win season since 2007. The Tigers also secured their first Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) Tournament appearance in 20 years and earned the program’s first-ever OVC Tournament victory.


In 2024, McRath’s squad continued its upward trajectory, finishing with a 26-25 overall record and a 15-10 mark in conference play. The Tigers placed third in the OVC, securing the program’s first-ever first-round bye in the OVC Tournament. TSU recorded two wins in the tournament, marking the school’s first back-to-back 20+ win seasons since 2006-07. The Tigers also boasted seven players batting over .300 in conference play and ranked third in the nation in triples. One player ranked among the top 20 nationally in triples and triples per game.


McRath’s achievements in just three seasons have already placed her second all-time in career wins at TSU. She holds the second and third most single-season wins in program history and is the first coach to guide TSU to an OVC Tournament win.


A graduate of the University of Mississippi, McRath played softball for the Rebels from 2002-2006 and earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Criminal Justice and English. During her time at Ole Miss, she served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), where she represented 450 student-athletes and led community service and career development initiatives.


McRath’s coaching journey began as a volunteer assistant at LeMoyne-Owen College in 2008 before taking on head coaching roles at Kirby High School in Memphis and St. Cecilia High School in Nashville. She also served as an assistant coach at Battle Ground Academy and Ensworth Academy before joining TSU.


McRath was selected to the 2023 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Known for her expertise in hitting, throwing, fielding, catching, and base-running, McRath has also been heavily involved in player development, preparing athletes both physically and mentally for success on and off the field.

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Lexie Higgins

Lexie Higgins joined the TSU coaching staff in the fall of 2022. Higgins comes to Nashville after spending the 2022 season as a volunteer assistant coach at UAB. She got her coaching career started at her alma mater, Samford. Higgins was the volunteer assistant during the 2019 season, followed by two years as an assistant coach in 2020 and 2021.


Higgins excelled defensively during her four-year playing career at Samford. After limited playing time as a freshman in 2015, she became a staple of Burford-Johnson’s lineups for the next three seasons, starting 174 of a possible 178 contests.


In 2016, Higgins was the only Bulldog to start all 60 games, helping to lead Samford to SoCon regular season and tournament titles, as well as an NCAA Regional berth. With nine home runs and 37 runs batted in, she earned a second-team All-SoCon selection.


As a senior in 2018, Higgins led the team in home runs (9) and slugging percentage (.496). She also ranked second in OPS (.850), runs batted in (27), and total bases (69).


Higgins graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sports Administration.

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Renae Spears

Renae Spears is entering her third season on the coaching staff after spending the 2022 season as a graduate assistant coach. Spears' playing career included stops at East Tennessee State University and TSU. Spears spent her first four seasons at ETSU and used the COVID-eligibility to transfer to TSU for her final year. At TSU, she started in 39 of 40 games, averaged .231 in 108 at-bats, tied for the team-lead in triples, and ranked third in runs, hits, and walks.


Spears was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn. She graduated magna cum laude from ETSU with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. She received a Master's degree in Human Performance and Sport Sciences with a concentration in Sports Administration from Tennessee State in 2022. Spears is the younger sister of head coach, Genee McRath.

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