Coaching Staff
Corey Lyon
Assistant Coach
Carolina softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the addition of assistant coach Corey Lyon to the Tar Heels' coaching staff in June 2023.
"We're excited to welcome Corey to the Tar Heel family," Smith Lyon said. "He has proven that he can develop an elite, nationally-ranked offense capable of breaking records. His ability to connect with players and build relationships makes him a perfect fit for the culture we are establishing here in Chapel Hill. I can't wait to see the impact he has on the team this year."
Lyon comes to UNC after spending the last five seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall. During his time in Huntington, where he served as the Herd's hitting coach, Marshall rewrote the offensive record book.
In 2023, the Thundering Herd led the Sun Belt Conference in batting average (.333), on-base percentage (.421), scoring (6.42 runs per game), triples per game (0.35) and walks (201). Marshall also had the league's top two batting average leaders, Autumn Owen and Alex Coleman. Owen was the league's triple crown winner, leading the Sun Belt in batting average (.444), home runs (19) and RBIs (71).
During Lyon's first season in 2019, Marshall broke or tied a total of 30 records with most coming on the offensive side, including home runs (79), runs scored (339), doubles (83), slugging percentage (.489) RBI (312), total bases (785), walks (220) and hit-by-pitches (74).
"Coach Smith Lyon's passion and enthusiasm for this university is contagious," Lyon said. "I'm so excited to be a part of the Tar Heel family."
Lyon joined the Marshall staff after four seasons as the head coach at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. The Warhawks totaled 111 wins, including two 30-win seasons, during his time. ULM also had ten players named to All-Sun Belt Conference teams, two honored as NFCA All-Region and six players chosen by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association for All-Louisiana recognition. In 2015 and 2016 UL-Monroe was honored with the Sun Belt Conference Team GPA Award.
His previous coaching stops also include South Arkansas and Paris Junior College (Texas).
Lyon received his bachelor's degree in elementary education from Newman (Kan.) University in 1995 and his master's in school leadership from Baker (Kan.) University in 2005.
Lyon is married to Megan Smith Lyon. He has three daughters, Cheyanne, Carson and Ciarra and a stepson, Cooper. He also has a son-in-law, Stephen North, and one grandson, Emmett North.
Maddie Holub
Assistant Coach
Carolina softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the addition of Maddie Holub as the program's new pitching coach in July 2023.
"I'm excited that Maddie is joining the Tar Heel family," Smith Lyon said. "I have seen first-hand the positive impact she has on all our players, especially the pitchers and catchers. She is extremely loyal, a tireless worker and an incredible role model for the young women she coaches. I can't wait for her to get to work in Chapel Hill."
Holub arrives at Carolina after five seasons as the pitching coach on Smith Lyons' staff at Marshall.
"I'm extremely excited to be joining Coach Smith Lyon and Coach Lyon at UNC," Holub said. "The strong, family-driven culture and passion for the game that Coach Smith Lyon brings is inspiring and going to elevate an already traditionally strong program. It's an exciting time for the Tar Heel softball family and I'm so grateful to be part of it."
The Thundering Herd led the Sun Belt in pitching in 2023 with a league-best 1.62 ERA and 10 shutouts. Marshall's Sydney Nester was the conference's pitching triple crown winner with a 1.07 ERA, 27 wins and 234 strikeouts.
Under Holub's coaching, Nester earned 2022 First team All-Region honors and set the program record for the most strikeouts per seven innings (9.03) and tied the record for the most double-digit strikeout games in a year (12).
Marshall won 165 games out of 234 (.705 winning percentage), including 45 by shutout, in Holub's five years as pitching coach.
Prior to her time in Huntington, Holub spent four seasons as the pitching coach at Saint Leo University in Saint Leo, Fla. While working with the Lions, Holub helped the squad to back-to-back NCAA Division II postseason appearances including reaching the World Series in 2018. She was named NFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year for Division II in 2015.
Prior to coaching at Saint Leo, Holub assisted at her alma mater Fort Hays State. The Tigers were ranked as high as No. 13 in the country during her time on staff. Holub also coached overseas in Collecchio, Italy, with the Collecchio Softball 17U and 10U teams. While in Italy, Holub focused on pitcher development and conditioning while assisting with game management.
During her playing career at Fort Hays State, Holub was a dominant performer in the circle and at the plate. She is still her team's record holder in career hits (255), runs scored (183), RBI (160), home runs (46), wins (77) and strikeouts (974). The four-time all-conference performer was honored as the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Player and Pitcher of the Year in her senior season of 2013.
She was named to the Fort Hays State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
Holub earned her degree in health and human performance from Fort Hays State University in 2013.
Aquilla "Kiwi" Mateen James
Director of Sports Performance
Had coach Donna Papa announced the return of Tar Heel Aquilla "Kiwi" Mateen James to the Carolina softball program as the new director of sports performance on Nov. 2, 2021.
"I'm thrilled to have Kiwi Mateen James back on our staff," Papa said.
"Kiwi has been a player, a volunteer assistant and a former director of sports performance for our program. We're fortunate to have someone with her knowledge base of the game and the skill set she brings to execute this position. She will help us navigate through scouting and technology as well as other important areas of our program."
After graduating in 2016 from Carolina with a degree in exercise and sports science, Mateen served as the volunteer assistant for the Heels from 2016-18. She then returned to the staff from for the 2019 season as the director of sports performance.
"I'm excited to be back in the role as director of sport performance," Mateen James said. "I've worked with Coach Papa, MJ and Chelsey over the years and I feel right at home. I think they've put together a great team and I can't wait to be a part of the journey this season."
A 2014 All-ACC Second Team selection, Mateen James appeared in 214 career games, making 186 starts in the outfield. She finished her career in the top 10 in triples (11) and runs scored (142), with 12 doubles and 44 RBIs. The speedy outfielder swiped the fifth-most bases in program history, going 70-for-81 (.864), and helped the Tar Heels set a new team record for single-season stolen bases in 2016 with a personal-best 26 steals as a senior.
Mateen James is married to former Carolina basketball player Joel James. They have one son, Ziggy. Joel is currently playing basketball overseas in Turkey.
During her playing career at Fort Hays State, Holub was a dominant performer in the circle and at the plate. She is still her team's record holder in career hits (255), runs scored (183), RBI (160), home runs (46), wins (77) and strikeouts (974). The four-time all-conference performer was honored as the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Player and Pitcher of the Year in her senior season of 2013.
She was named to the Fort Hays State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019.
Holub earned her degree in health and human performance from Fort Hays State University in 2013.
