LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Guiding Bellevue to a NWAC Tournament top seed, head coach Leah Francis and her staff have been named the 2019 NFCA NWAC National Coaching Staff of the Year. Under the direction of Francis and assistant coaches - Danielle Orvella, Sarah Hyatt and Michelle Fusco - the Bulldogs posted league-best 42-7 overall and 29-3 league marks. 

The squad was rewarded for their success as a trio of Bulldogs – Rhaney Harris, Tatum Dow and Tori McDowell – earned NFCA All-America honors. Bellevue posted a perfect 20-0 home record and recorded 13 and 14-game winning streaks, respectively. They were top-three in several offensive categories, which included second with 579 hits and 22 triples and third in batting average (.407), slugging (.689), on-base percentage (.479), doubles (118) and home runs (80). 

Francis, who stepped down after the Bulldogs’ final contest of 2019, guided Bellevue to 542 wins and a .781 winning percentage in 15 seasons at the helm.