LOUISVILLE, Ky. – San Jose City College (North) and Palomar College (South) were voted by their peers as the 2025 ATEC/NFCA Cal JC Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Wednesday afternoon.
To be eligible, the program’s head coach must be a member and winners were voted by member head coaches in each of their respective regions. The National Coaching Staff of the Year will be announced on May 20 following the conclusion of the 2025 3C2A State Championship Tournament, which will be played May 15-18 at West Valley College and San Jose City College (May 16 only).
Regional Winners
North – San Jose City College
Head Coach: Debbie Huntze-Rooney
Assistant Coaches: Jessell Lewis, Kayla Rooney, Natasha Sachdeva, Zylee Augenstein and Malia Venegas
Debbie Huntze-Rooney was named 3C2A North Coach of the Year after leading San Jose City to a 32-9 overall record, which included a 24-6 mark at home. The Jaguars amassed 229 runs and batted .313 as a team, collecting 21 home runs. San Jose ranked in the top 10 in the 3C2A in doubles (77, fourth), sacrifice hits (38, seventh), hit by pitch (33, seventh) and extra-base hits (101, seventh). Two members of their pitching staff had double-digit wins, and the four pitchers on their team combined for a 1.84 ERA and a 1.67 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.
South – Palomar College
Head Coach: Lacey Craft
Assistant Coaches: Mark Eldridge, Megan Wachholtz and Farrah Steffany
Lacey Craft was named South Coach of the Year after guiding the Comets to a 38-3 record so far this season. Palomar defeated Canyons over the weekend to advance to the second round of the 3C2A SoCal playoffs, and will face Cerritos in a best-of-three series starting Friday. The Comets rank in the top three in 16 3C2A statistical categories, including first in at-bats (1,174), runs (413), hits (509), doubles (90), RBI (382), extra-base hits (156), batting average (.434), slugging percentage (.655), on-base average (.498), total bases (769) and home attendance (3,275).
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