BALTIMORE -- First-year head coach
Chris Stelma announced on Wednesday that Taylor Turner and Mike Suppa will complete his inaugural coaching staff.
"I am beyond excited to welcome Coach Taylor and Coach Mike to our staff," said Stelma. "They bring a great balance of knowledge of the game as well as a strong desire to develop and care for our Student-Athletes. We are lucky to have them and we can't wait to get started!"
Turner follows Stelma from Oakland. which she joined right after her playing career concluded.
She helped the Golden Grizzlies find great success in her two seasons on staff. Under her guidance in 2026, two pitchers who received 1st-Team All Horizon League honors, a no-hitter was thrown, OU beat Michigan State, and two pitchers were named Pitcher of the Week honors (one of which earned the honor twice and the other had this honor once). In the 2025 season, she coached a 2nd-Team All Horizon League and All-Freshman team pitcher.
Turner was a standout softball player at the collegiate level, playing three years at Miami of Ohio and one at Bowling Green State University. Her leadership qualities were further recognized as she served on the team's leadership committee, where she was instrumental in fostering teamwork and discipline. Her coaching experience includes her volunteer work at Total Sports in Wixom, Mich. and Rossford, Ohio, where she trained young athletes in sport-specific skills, including pitching and hitting techniques.
"I am beyond grateful for the privilege and the opportunity to join and represent the UMBC softball program," said Turner. "To be a part of a department and institution who places the value and well-being of its student-athletes as a top priority is something I am extremely excited to be a part of. I am looking forward to hitting the ground running with our student-athletes, continuing to build a strong culture, and working with a coaching staff that believes in the vision of UMBC Athletics."
Suppa spent the previous two season's at Saint Peter's, where he responsible for defensive coordination and outfield development.
With a strong background in both baseball and softball coaching, Suppa brings a wealth of experience in player development, strategic game planning, and defensive execution. At Saint Peter's he helped develop and All-MAAC Rookie team outfielder.
Prior to joining Saint Peter's, Suppa served as an assistant baseball coach at Vernon Township High School, where he played a key role in leading the varsity team to two Freedom Division Conference Championships. In addition to his coaching success at the high school level, he was the head baseball recruiter for County College of Morris, where he built strong relationships with high school programs nationwide to identify and develop top-tier talent.
Suppa has also worked with the Sussex County Miners Organization, contributing to the Kaboom Softball and Baseball programs, where he focused on skill development, athlete training, and fostering a competitive yet positive team culture.
A graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, Suppa holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing and a minor in Advertising.
"I'm extremely excited and grateful for the opportunity to join the UMBC softball program," said Suppa. "The chance to work alongside such an incredible coaching staff and learn from their experience made this opportunity especially meaningful to me. I'm looking forward to bringing my experience to the program, building strong relationships with our student-athletes, and doing everything I can to help continue building on the success and culture at UMBC. Go Dawgs!"
