Assistant Softball Coach

Jamilia Cosay, Assistant Softball Coach, brings a deep passion for softball and a commitment to mentoring young athletes, inspired by her faith and Native American heritage. She earned an Associate in Arts from Phoenix College and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Arizona Christian University, equipping her with a strong foundation for leadership both on and off the field. Cosay’s coaching journey began in high school, where her love for the game and mentoring others took root. She has since coached her younger sister through club, high school, and now college, fulfilling a lifelong dream of coaching at the university level. As a Native American, she takes pride in representing her community and inspiring the next generation. Her path to Nelson University was paved through a longstanding connection with Head Coach Jimmy Gutierrez, with whom she played against in club ball, coached alongside at Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC), and shared a vision for coaching at the collegiate level. When Jimmy invited her to join him at Nelson, it was a natural step toward achieving their shared goals. Coach Cosay integrates Christian values into her coaching by emphasizing love, faith, and resilience, drawing from her own experiences as a player. She teaches her athletes to rely on God in challenging moments, often sharing her favorite Bible verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength,” to inspire them to find strength and ease through faith. Her philosophy focuses on building bonds, fostering personal and spiritual growth, and using the adversities of softball to teach life lessons, with God at the center. Her coaching career includes over five years with the Firecrackers club organization, as well as high school coaching at Canyon View High School (2020-2021) and Cactus High School (2021-2023). She also served as an assistant coach at PVCC (2023-2024) before joining Nelson in the 2024-2025 season. Coach Cosay cherishes moments like coaching her sister, witnessing her team’s first win as a new program, and seeing her players grow both on and off the field. She also takes pride in hosting camps and clinics on her reservation to grow softball and uncover hidden talent, furthering her impact on her community and the sport.