Sue Enquist
Keynote and Assistant Coach Seminar Speaker
Former UCLA Head Coach, 2006 NFCA Hall of Famer

Sue Enquist, former UCLA All-American and coaching great, will present the keynote address at this year’s “For the Love of the Game” NFCA National Convention.

“Prepare – Love – Honor – The Game” is the philosophy Enquist has built her career on, and as one of the nation’s top motivators and speakers, she will articulate her philosophy of life, leadership and competition when she makes the convention’s keynote address Wednesday, December 9, in Nashville.

Enquist, who concluded her 27-year career as UCLA head coach in 2006, holds more national championships (11) than anyone in the history of collegiate softball. Her 887-175-1 (.835) winning percentage makes her first all-time in Division I coaching, and she is the only person in NCAA softball history to win a championship as a head coach and a player. Hailed a “coaching legend” by ESPN, Sue Enquist’s tenure produced 65 All-Americans and 12 Olympians.

She was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 2006, and also is a member of the Women’s Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame and the UCLA Hall of Fame. Enquist is also the recipient of multiple National Coach of the Year and Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors.

Concluding her UCLA MVP playing career with a career batting average of .401, Enquist is a former world champion and USA National Team coach and player. She played on the first Pan American gold medal team in 1979 and was a member of the USA’s national team coaching pool from 1992 to 1996.

Beyond her roles as coach and player, Enquist is regarded as a leading innovator of softball instructional materials and equipment. In addition to her 25 instructional videos covering all facets of the game, she is the author of the book 101 Offensive Drills for Softball. Together with former MLB Player Don Slaught, she co-developed and co-produced RightViewPro hitting instructional software. She is also the inventor of the SB401 training bat, as well as the Kwik-Slide Sliding wrap, which increases player protection when sliding. Her forthcoming book on leadership is slated for release later this year.

Off the softball field, Enquist has gained the reputation as a dynamic and highly sought-after international motivational speaker. Besides speaking for companies and clinics throughout the world, she runs over 30 seminars for parents, coaches and players here in the United States.

She grew up in San Clemente, California, and is a former professional surfer. She recently moved back to San Clemente and enjoys surfing and spending time with her family.

Will Keim
Leadership Pre-Convention Seminar Speaker
Noted Speaker and Author

Convention-goers will not want to miss this special leadership workshop that will motivate, entertain and provide the keys for sports leadership for the 21st Century.

Dr. Will Keim, one of the nation’s most sought-after speakers on leadership and character, has spoken to more than 2 million students, faculty, and staff from 2,000 campuses in all 50 states and most provinces of Canada. His references read like a Who’s Who, with ESPN commentator and football coach Lou Holtz saying, “Will Keim is someone committed to excellence; someone who cares about you. When Will Keim speaks, we all should listen.”

Joe Mazzola, executive director of the Character Education Partnership in Washington, D.C., said, “Based on his electrifying and dynamic presentation at the United States Air Force Academy at the National Character & Leadership Symposium, I invited Dr. Keim to keynote the National Forum on Character in Washington, D.C. He delivered a powerful message that focused on moral courage and character-based leadership that received a standing ovation from 800 character educators from across the nation.

Keim, who began his career as a graduate teaching assistant at the University of the Pacific and later at Oregon State, taught various speech and communication classes before becoming the Intercollegiate Chaplain for the First Christian Church in Corvallis, Oregon. He received his Master of Arts in Communication Arts and Religious Studies from UOP in 1980, and a Doctor of Philosophy in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State in 1990. He founded Will Keim Speaks! Inc. in 1986, and The Character Institute in 2003. Keim has also had eight books published and was the contributing author on three other books. A couple of his most recent contributions include "The Wit & Wisdom of Dr. Will Keim," and "Keys to Success in College and Life." He also has six video programs directed toward students, character, and leadership.

Keim is a California native, and he and his wife, Donna Basham, have four children. The Keims currently reside in Oregon.

SEMINAR PART I: DEFINING THE ROLE OF “COACH AS EDUCATOR” AND “COACH AS LEADER” THROUGH THE 10 CHARACTERISTICS OF GREAT COACHES
• Define leadership for the 21st century
• Learn 10 characteristics to inspire, empower, & motivate a team
• Discover a four-step model for ethical decision making
• Reveal a conflict resolution process for use on the field and off
• Discuss the concept of “The Education of Character” and its importance to successful coaches and maximally achieving teams

SEMINAR PART II: UNDERSTANDING TODAY’S STUDENT-ATHLETES
• How student-athlete demographics are impacting coaching
• The 10 keys to success in college & life for student-athletes
• How to build community & a sense of common purpose on a team
• The role of sex, alcohol, & drugs (S.A.D.) on classroom and “on the dirt” performance and what to do about it
• How to establish trust in relationship with players and coaches

Todd Ballard
Ballard Creative Consulting

Ballard has been working in the advertising, marketing and communications field for more than three decades. During this time, he has been a national award winning creative director but now his primary area of expertise is in brand building and strategic planning.

During his career, Ballard has worked on building national brands such as Thrifty Car Rental, Sonic Drive-In, Tyson Chicken and most recently, Louisville Slugger. Over an 11-year relationship, this has resulted in Ballard taking on active role in helping the NFCA in rebranding and strategic marketing.

Ballard is a noted speaker on social networking, creative marketing and ideal solutions.

Erica Beach
Assistant Coach, Ohio State University

Beach is in her fourth season as an assistant coach at Ohio State. Her primary responsibility with the Buckeyes includes working with the pitching staff.

Under Beach's tutelage, OSU pitchers have compiled 73 wins and 21 shutouts in the past two seasons. Her additional duties include working with the catchers and outfielders, as well as handling all travel arrangements for the Buckeyes.

Prior to joining the staff at Ohio State, Beach had a stellar career at Arizona State University. With the Sun Devils, Beach earned all-Pac-10 honors all four seasons and also earned all-American honors two years.

Mike Davenport
Head Coach, North Georgia College and State University

Davenport is in his 10th season as head coach at North Georgia and his 13th season as a member of the athletics staff for the Saints.

During his coaching career, Davenport has led North Georgia to 361 wins and a .727 winning percentage. In 2009, the Saints set a school record with a 50-5 finish. North Georgia advanced to the Division II national championship tournament for the first time in school history. Rated No. 1 in the nation for several weeks, North Georgia finished third in the final NFCA rankings for 2009.

While at North Georgia, Davenport won seven conference championships and advanced to five NAIA national tournaments. After leading the program through its transition to NCAA Division II status, Davenport led the Saints to 36 wins in 2007 and 38 wins in 2008 before the major breakout season of 2009.

Bill Edwards
Head Coach, Hofstra University

Edwards is in his 21st season as head coach at Hofstra. This past season, Edwards topped the 700-win plateau. His winning percentage of .671 ranks him in the NCAA all-time Top 25.

The Pride has reeled off 20 straight winning seasons under the guidance of Edwards and his staff. Hofstra has qualified for 11 NCAA tournament appearances, including a school-best streak from 2003 to 2008. The Pride has also set an NCAA softball record with 11 straight conference tournament championships.

Edwards and his staff have taken NFCA regional coaching staff of the year honors eight times and also earned back-to-back Colonial Athletic Association Coach of the Year honors in 2007 and 2008.

Kelley Green
Head Coach, Coastal Carolina University

Kelley Green is in her first season as head coach at Coastal Carolina, after a stellar record as head coach at NCAA Division II's Lock Haven University the past 10 season.

In her final four seasons at LHU, Green led the squad to an amazing 208 victories, including the Division II national championship after both the 2006 and 2009 seasons. In 2007, the Eagles were national runner-up, while the 2008 squad made the national semifinals. Her 346 victories at the school rank her as Lock Haven's all-time winningest coach. Green and her staff were named national Division II coaching staff of the year twice, most recently after the 51-6 national title run in 2009.

Green's collegiate career took place at Northwestern University. A three-time all-Big 10 performer, Green earned third-team All-American honors after her senior season. Green played professionally before a brief assistant coaching stint at Penn State University.

Charlie Greene
Field Coordinator and Catching Instructor, Milwaukee Brewers

A four-year major-league baseball player, Greene is presently the field coordinator and catching instructor for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Brewers.

Green had one-year playing stints with the New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays. The Miami, Fla., native also played Triple A ball in the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Devil Rays organizations, before ending his career with the Chicago Cubs organization.

In his present position, Greene coordinates scouting within the Brewers' minor league organizations.

Alyson Habetz
Associate Head Coach, University of Alabama

Habetz is entering her 12th season as an assistant on Coach Patrick Murphy's staff at Alabama. Her coaching duties involve the outfielders and team offense.

A four-year basketball and softball standout at the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now Louisiana-Lafayette), Habetz was a third-team All-American and Academic All-American with the Cajuns. In 1993, Habetz played a key role as USL qualified for the Women's College World Series.

Prior to joining the UA staff, Habetz played professionally in the Women's Professional Baseball League, playing with Colorado Silver Bullets and the Long Beach Aces. During her high school days, Habetz became the first female in the state of Louisiana to play baseball.

Cat Heifner
Associate Head Coach, New Mexico State University

Heifner is in her sixth season as associate head coach and seventh season overall with New Mexico State. Her primary duties include hitting and overseeing the program's recruiting efforts.

The 2009 New Mexico State team finished 33-21, setting numerous milestones and school records in the process. The squad finished with a .341 batting average, which led the entire nation and set the NM State single-season team batting average record. The Aggies were also ranked seventh in scoring (6.09), seventh in slugging percentage (.543) and 10th in home runs per game (1.26) throughout the country.

Prior to coming to New Mexico State, Heifner served two seasons as an assistant at Angelo State University. A native of Landstuhl, Germany, Heifner received her bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at El Paso.

Leslie Huntington
Head Coach, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

Huntington is in her 10th season as head coach at Wisconsin-Eau Claire. The highlight of this standout coaching career is the Blugolds' 2008 Division III national championship.

In 2007, Huntington surpassed JoEllen Bailey as the winningest coach in UW-Eau Claire history. Huntington led the Blugolds to three straight conference championships, a first in school history. Huntington and her staff have three times been named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year.

Huntington has served on several NFCA committees. She also serves as an athletic trainer and senior woman's administrator at UW-Eau Claire.

Lauren Lappin
Assistant Coach, Northwestern University

Lappin is in her second season as an assistant coach at Northwestern. At NU, Lappin works with the hitters and middle infielders.

Presently on her third stint with the USA National Team, Lappin has been part of two World Cup championship teams, as well as a Olympic silver medalist in 2008 and Pan American Games gold medalist in 2007.

Collegiately, Lappin was a four-year standout at Stanford University, where she earned NFCA All-American honors twice. Her Stanford career also included two different Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year honors and selection to the 2004 Women's College World Series All-Tournament Team.

Jana McGinnis
Head Coach, Jacksonville State University

McGinnis is entering her 17th season as head coach at Jacksonville State. This past year, JSU rewrote the school's record book, finishing 43-16 and upsetting Tennessee to win the Knoxville Regional.

The Gamecocks have now won 40 or more games for the sixth time in the past seven seasons. JSU also became only the second program in the state of Alabama to reach the round of 16 in NCAA tournament competition. Under McGinnis, the Gamecocks have won two Ohio Valley Conference championships in the past five seasons. A total of 28 players have earned all-conference honors during that time.

A basketball standout during her collegiate playing days at Jacksonville State, McGinnis was a two-time All-Gulf South Conference guard.

Darren Mueller
Head Coach, North Dakota State University

Mueller is in his ninth season as head coach at North Dakota State. The Bison finished 38-20 in 2009, completing the season with a stunning victory in the Oklahoma Regional before falling to Arizona State in the school's first-ever super regional appearance.

A 1994 graduate of NDSU, Mueller was in charge of leading the Bison during a transitional period from Division II to Division I. Mueller is in his 16th season with the softball program overall. NDSU set a school record with 68 victories during the Division II national championship series of 2000. The 2009 season marked the first time NDSU was eligible for Division I postseason play.

A noted clinician on the art of hitting, Mueller has been a part of four hitting videos.

Patrick Murphy
Head Coach, University of Alabam

Murphy is in his 12th season as head coach at the University of Alabama. This past season, Alabama finished 54-11, falling to Florida in the semifinal round of the Women's College World Series.

Presently, Murphy ranks fourth among all active coaches for winning percentage. He has led the Crimson Tide to six WCWS appearances, 10 straight NCAA tournament bids and one Southeastern Conference championship.

Murphy has also transformed the program into a favorite among Tide fans. Alabama ranks among the nation's leaders in attendance on an annual basis. The team is also active in several community endeavors each season.

Bridgette Quimpo
Head Coach, New Jersey City University

Quimpo is in her sixth season as head coach and academic advisor at New Jersey City. She also remains active in the professional fastpitch circuit.

A four-year standout at the University of South Carolina-Aiken, Quimpo was named team Most Valuable Player after her senior season. At catcher, she led the Peach Belt Conference in fewest stolen bases allowed and also led her squad in RBIs on three different occasions.

While at New Jersey City, Quimpo has instilled discipline and a hard work ethic, allowing the program to help turn the corner.

Randy Schneider
Head Coach, Valparaiso University

Schneider is in his seventh season as head coach at Valparaiso. The winningest coach in Valpo history, Schneider led the squad to a 25-24 record during the 2009 campaign.

Schneider took over the Crusaders prior to the 2004 season. His first team had a 14-game turnaround from the previous season and also earned a berth to the Mid-Continent Conference, now The Summit League, tournament for the first time in five seasons. The 21st win of the 2006 season moved Schneider to the top of the school's coaching ledger.

In 2008, the Crusaders won a school-record 30 games, earning Schneider and his staff Co-Coach of the Year honors with the Horizon League.

Beverly Smith
Associate Head Coach, University of North Carolina

Smith enters her 11th season as a coach on the North Carolina staff and her second season as the associate head coach.

Her integral role in establishing UNC softball program can hardly be summed up by a number. Her first contributions as a Tar Heel came on the field as a player, where her remarkable career from 1991-1994 helped establish Carolina as a growing softball force. She was the first Tar Heel to earn Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 2004. Smith still ranks among the program's top 10 in numerous career batting and pitching categories.

In her second stint with the UNC staff, Smith presently works with the pitchers and catchers. Since rejoining the staff in 2004, UNC has appeared in six straight NCAA regional tournaments.

Les Stuedeman
Head Coach, University of Alabama-Huntsville

Stuedeman enters her 16th season as head coach at Alabama-Huntsville. During her coaching career, Stuedeman has built the Chargers into a national power.

In 2009, UAH finished the season 54-6 and spent several weeks ranked as the nation's No. 1 Division II team. For their efforts, Stuedeman and her staff earned regional coaching staff of the year honors for a fifth time from the NFCA. The Chargers lost to Lock Haven in the national championship game.

During her career, Stuedeman has led the school to more than 600 career victories. UAH has never had a losing season, while averaging 45 wins per season under Stuedeman.The first coach in school history, Stuedeman has led UAH to 11 NCAA regional appearances and two trips to the national championship tournament. Her squads have won 10 Gulf South Conference championships and helped earn top coaching staff honors four different times inside the league.

Heather Tarr
Head Coach, University of Washington

Tarr enters her sixth season at Washington, after winning the 2009 national championship - the first softball title in school history.

During her first five seasons at UW, Tarr led the Huskies to five straight regionals, extending the school's overall postseason streak to 16 straight trips. Three times, UW finished in the top 15 and made three super regionals during that time. Prior to Washington, Tarr was on the staff for the University of the Pacific for six years, including a stint as associate head coach.

Prior to her coaching career, Tarr was a four-year letter winner at Washington. During her career, the Huskies had a second-place and third-place finish at the Women's College Series. Tarr then played professionally before entering the coaching ranks.

George Wares
Head Coach, Central College

Wares is in his 26th season as head coach at Central College. A member of the NFCA Hall of Fame Class of 2007, Wares ranks third in career victories on the Division III level with 840 wins.

Among active coaches on the Division III level, Wares ranks second in career victories, first in playoff appearances and first in playoff victories. The 21 playoff appearances under Wares also include four national championships. Central has won or shared the Iowa Conference championship 10 different times. Wares and his staff earned national coaching staff of the year honors after the 2003 season.

A highly regarded motivational speaker, Wares received his master's degree from Iowa State University.

Tracy Warren
Seitzer/Capian/McMahon/Vitek Attorneys

A standout softball player at the The College of New Jersey, (formerly Trenton State College), in the 1980s, Warren is now a noted women's sports broadcaster and attorney-at law.

During her playing career, the Lions compiled a 137-17 record and also won the 1987 national championship. Warren was named a two-time NFCA All-American and a two-time COSIDA Academic All-American, as well as the New Jersey and Trenton State College Female Athlete of the Year in 1987.

While at New Jersey, Warren received a B.A. in Broadcast Communications. Later, she received a M.A. in journalism from Temple and her J.D. from Notre Dame. Her broadcast career has included work with ESPN, Fox Sports, College Sports Television and other networks. Her law emphasis is on employment counsel and litigation, sports representation, negotiation and litigation, and business litigation.

Natasha Watley
Professional Player, Olympian

Watley is presently playing professionally in Japan for Team Toyota, competing on the PFX tour while continuing to play for The USA National Softball Team. This is the latest stop on an outstanding career, which includes being a Gold Medalist at the 2004 Olympics and Silver Medalist at the 2008 Olympics.

Also internationally, Watley is a two-time Pan American Gold Medalist, two-time world champion and three-time World Cup champion. As a four-time All-American shortstop, Watley led UCLA to three straight Women's College World Series appearances and the Division I national championship in 2003. Also in 2003, Watley was named Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Away from the playing career, Watley runs many camps and clinics throughout the nation and has authored an instructional DVD entitled "The Art of Slapping." Watley also sponsors a 10U team in southern California.

Kaci Clark Zerbe
National Director of Pitching for Frozen Ropes

Zerbe is a professional softball player, in addition to serving as the National Director of Pitching for Frozen Ropes.

The past two seasons, Zerbe has been in Japan competing for Team Honda. Prior to that, she had a six-year career in the National Pro Fastpitch League. During that league's hiatus in 2002 and 2003, Zerbe had a chance to play for one of the most storied programs in all of softball, the Stratford Brakettes. While with that squad, the team won two national championships.

Zerbe had a standout collegiate career, competing two seasons at both Georgia State University and UCLA. As a junior at Georgia State, she compiled a 10-0 record on the mound. She posted a 24-3 mark as a senior at UCLA.