Varela enters her first season with the Harvard softball softball program after joining the Crimson as an assistant coach in the summer of 2025.
Varela arrives to Harvard after spending the 2024 and 2025 seasons with Florida International as an assistant coach and director of operations. A native of Miami, Florida, Varela played a key role in the both the Panther's day-to-day operations and the program's success on the diamond. After posting as 21-29 record in 2024, Varela assisted in a turnaround 2025 campaign that saw FIU post a 29-22-1 record, its highest win total since the 2018 season.
Within the FIU coaching staff, Varela played a key role in student-athlete development and opponent scouting, working with her fellow coaches in film analysis to identify improvement areas and strategic training areas. Off the field, Varela developed fundraising partnerships with local youth leagues to foster community engagement.
Prior to her coaching stint with FIU, Varela was a member of the Panthers' softball program from 2021-2023. Alongside her playing career as a student-athlete, Varela jumpstarted her coaching career as a head coach of the Florida Power Softball Organization, working with her assistant coaches to produce a positive and supportive environment for youth athletes. Varela graduated from FIU with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in business administration.
