Sophia Duckett of Des Moines is the head coach for Spartan softball. She took the helm of Southwestern's program in May 2026.

Duckett, formerly Sophia Maras, was a softball standout at both the high school and collegiate levels. She was a five-year starter for Johnston High School and led the team to a state tournament appearance each season. She earned all-state honors at shortstop and catcher; earned all-conference honors at shortstop, catcher, and outfield; and was named to the State All-Tournament Team during her senior season.

Following high school, she was a student-athlete at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Boone, where she was named a unanimous First Team NJCAA All-American, earned NJCAA Division II Player of the Year honors, and finished first nationally in six offensive statistical categories. After graduating from DMACC, she competed as a Division I player at the University of Iowa and wrapped up her softball career at Iowa State University, earning First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors and competing at multiple positions, including infield, outfield, and catcher.

Duckett savors coaching at the junior college level, because it had such a significant impact on her own athletic and personal development. She said her experiences as both a student-athlete and coach have shaped her passion for building strong relationships with players while creating a competitive, supportive environment focused on growth. She strives to help student-athletes reach their full potential in softball, as well as academics, leadership, and life.

Duckett coached alongside Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Merical as an assistant softball coach at Johnston High School from 2022-25. She enjoys leading softball camps and serves as a private softball instructor.

Duckett earned her Associate of Arts degree from DMACC in 2021 and her Bachelor of Science in marketing and business analytics from Iowa State University in 2024.