Davina Hernandez, whose Southington High softball teams won five state titles in the last decade, has resigned from coaching to spend more time with her family.
Under Hernandez, who became the head coach in 2014, Southington won its 20th state championship in 2022, a national record. She did not lose a game in her first two seasons, going 24-0 in both 2014 and ’15, winning state titles both times.
She had a 77-game winning streak and another 40-game streak during her tenure, compiling a 228-17 record over 10 seasons.
“I always said when I had my own kids, I would take a step back from being a head coach,” Hernandez said. “That’s really what I’m doing. (Her son) Kyng’s going to be 4 soon. He’s getting into playing soccer now and doing his own things.
“It really came down to family.”
Hernandez, who played softball at Bristol Central and UMass and for the Puerto Rican national team, also battled health issues over the years. She has lupus and said her health “unfortunately kind of goes on the back burner every season.”
“What a sensational career she’s had with us,” Southington athletic director Steve Risser said. “Her manner and the way she’s approached teaching the game – people see her as a winner and see her championships, but she has softball in her heart and she transmits that to the girls, with her passion for the sport.
“I don’t know a coach who works harder at helping girls play at the next level.”
Southington has played in seven state championship games since 2014. The Knights lost in the semifinals in 2016 and ’18 and last year, the Knights fell to eventual Class LL runner-up Cheshire in the semifinal, 4-0.
Hernandez, who works as a speech pathologist, said she’s not sure if this is the end of her coaching career. “At least for now,” she said. “I want to give my parents a little bit of a break; they have done so much to allow me to be able to work and coach so much.
“I’m going to miss it. Honestly, in those 12 years, it was really some of the best years of my life. We had so many memories, championships, and some tough times where we had some teams and some pitchers that were the best and we didn’t win the state championship. And the alumni always come back – that’s one of my favorite parts of the season, getting to see the girls who come back.”