Entering her third season, Tonja Braxton serves as the head softball coach at Talladega College, where she has become a key figure in the development and success of the college’s softball program. The Silver Springs, Maryland native received a bachelor's degree in political science and masters degree in public administration from Bowie State University where she was a cheerleader and preeminent softball player earning her the title of Coca-Cola Female Athlete of The Year in the early ‘90s. The former scholar-athlete has transformed softball programs at Bowie State University, Howard University, South Carolina State University and Bishop McNamara High School respectively throughout her decades-long career.
After graduating college from Bowie State, Braxton immersed herself in the world of corporate accounting with hospitality giants, Marriott International and Interstate Hotels and Resorts. However, she found time to serve as part-time coach at her alma mater between her corporate gigs further proving her passion for the game. After a five year stint in corporate, Braxton went all in on her career in higher education athletics as Assistant Athletic Director and Head Softball Coach for Howard University in Washington, D.C. During her seven years at the helm of the Lady Bison program she amassed a 129-74 win loss record and is a two-time Coach of the Year winner. Braxton also led the Bisons to their first MEAC Championship and NCAA Regionals in 2007.
After her time at Howard, Braxton’s journey eventually led her to South Carolina State University where she continued to transform another program as head coach for over twenty student-athletes. After four years at SC State, Braxton returned to her alma mater, Bowie State
where she amassed two Division titles and captured the Division II Homerun record during her tenure. Braxton returned back to Maryland and spent two years at Bishop McNamara High School, where she increased the win-loss percentage by 30%.
As a member of the Seeds of Empowerment Leadership Academy, Braxton works with other female athletic administrators to help develop women in sports and athletics. However, one of her proudest philanthropic accomplishments stems from a partnership with the Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) Program. The program is a youth initiative that provides baseball and softball playing opportunities for young people in under-served communities. In 2010 Braxton and RBI Director, Keith Stubbs finally broke ground on this initiative in her home state, which had been a goal for many years. “Developing grassroots programs for the girls in both DC and Maryland is something that I feel strongly about. There are so many values and lessons that you learn through sports and there is so much character development that takes place on the field, we have to do a better job leveraging the playing field for everyone.” As a result, RBI fielded its first girls softball team for the Regional Tournament.
Now a proud ‘Degan, Coach Braxton flipped a 0-26 (22-23 season) during her 1st year at Talladega, and returned with an 11-21 (23-24) season which solidified a spot for the Lady Tornadoes in the Colonial Athletic Conference Regional Tournament. Tonja Braxton continues to lead Talladega College’s softball program with the same passion and drive that have defined her career. As she looks to the future, she remains focused on building a program that not only competes at the highest levels but also shapes the lives of the young women who come through it.
