LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The NFCA welcomes six members to the Association’s Board of Directors, who will officially begin their three-year tenures January 1, 2024. Board members are elected by the membership.

Additionally, the NFCA announced its new committee members, who are listed at the end of the press release, for 2024.

Four of the six are serving for the first time on the Board. University of Tennessee assistant coach Chris Malveaux joins the Executive Board as the Vice President for Publications. Arizona State University head coach Megan Bartlett (NCAA DI), Tiffin University assistant coach Megan Bammann (Assistant Coach) and NFCA Hall of Famer Julie Lenhart (Emeriti) are representatives of their respective groups.

Vice President for Awards Courtney Deifel (University of Arkansas) and NWAC Representative Jessica Buel (Clackamas Community College) were elected to full three-year terms after starting their service in the middle of the last term.

With the announcement of committee members, the NFCA is also revealing the formation of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Overseen by Now-Allah James (NYU / VP, Membership), the committee was formed as part of the NFCA’s ongoing commitment to inclusion. With intention, thoughtfulness, and a coordinated approach, the DEI Committee’s charge is to identify the systemic inequities that may exist within the softball community so they can ultimately be addressed and improved. It is our hope, through this committee we can continue to promote inclusivity and give further voice to underrepresented groups within our organization and our sport.

New Executive Board Members

Chris Malveaux (Assistant Coach, Tennessee) – Vice President, Publications

Malveuax heads into his third season as an assistant coach with the Lady Vols program. Under his tutelage, UT’s potent offense averaged 6.87 runs per game – first in the SEC and third nationally – in 2023. In two seasons, the Lady Vols have launched 170 home runs, scored 768 runs and recorded 348 extra-base hits. Malveaux, who has been a Division I coach since 2002, has served as a head coach at McNeesee State, while also holding assistant coach positions at McNeese, Missouri, Bradley and Louisiana.

Courtney Deifel (Head Coach, University of Arkansas) – Vice President Awards

In eight seasons as Arkansas’ head coach, Deifel has orchestrated the Razorbacks’ return to postseason play and guided the program to two SEC regular season championships, one SEC Tournament crown and six consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances from 2017-23. Deifel, the Razorbacks’ all-time wins leader with 278, led the program to its first NCAA Tournament Super Regional appearances in 2018, 2021 and 2022. Eleven of the program’s 12 NFCA All-America awards and 78 Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades have been accumulated under Deifel since 2016.

New Divisional Representatives

Megan Bartlett (Head Coach, Arizona State) – NCAA DI Representative
Megan Bartlett took over as head coach of the Arizona State softball program in the summer of 2022, becoming the eighth head coach in the program’s history. Prior to taking the Sun Devils, Bartlett spent two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Texas. That followed five seasons as a head coach building the Ball State softball program. As the Cardinals’ head coach (2016-20), Bartlett led the program to a 141-108 overall record, while registering three consecutive 30-win seasons from 2017-19. Over that stretch, she helped guide Ball State to the 2018 Mid-American Conference (MAC) West Division title with 37 victories, marking the fourth-most wins in a single season in program history.

Jessica Buel (Head Coach, Clackamas Community College) – NWAC Representative
Jessica Buel has guided Clackamas CC to 15 consecutive postseason appearances (NWAC did not have a postseason in 2020 and 2021 seasons), which includes a 2012 NWAC Championship and runner-up finishes in 2007, 2014 and 2023. Over 17 seasons at the helm, Buel has steered the Cougars to 479 victories, which includes a program-record 40 wins in 2007 and eight more seasons of 30-plus victories. Additionally, Buel was named the 2010 Southern Region Coach of the Year, 2012 NWAC Coach of the Year and the NFCA NWAC Coach of the Year in 2010.

Megan Bammann (Assistant Coach, Tiffin University) – Assistant Coach Representative
Megan Bammann enters her second season as Coordinator of Outside Vendors and assistant coach for the Tiffin University softball program. Prior to Tiffin, Bammann coached with various youth organizations, most recently as the associate head coach for the Ohio Bombers, after serving four years as head coach with Bo Jackson Elite and Ohio Classics. Additionally, she was an assistant coach for four years with the Central Ohio Ice, helping to develop softball skills with girls aged 8-18. 

Julie Lenhart (SUNY Cortland State, ret.) – Emeriti Representative
Inducted into the NFCA’s Hall of Fame in 2014, Lenhart’s head coaching career spanned 30 years with the final 25 at the helm of SUNY Cortland. She compiled an 826-329-2 record with the Red Dragons and 946-406-2 mark in her 30 years. Lenhart steered Cortland to 16 NCAA Division III Regionals and seven World Series appearances, finishing as the national runner-up in 2013. Her coaching staff was recognized seven times as an NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, while Lenhart earned State University of New York Athletic Conference Coach of the year five times. Prior to Cortland, Lenhart was the head coach at Wisconsin-Platteville for five seasons. 

Outgoing board members, Shonda Stanton (Indiana / VP Publications), Natalie Poole (Southern Miss / NCAA DI Representative), Stephanie Bagwell (Stony Brook / Assistant Coach), Lindsay Leftwich (North Carolina State / Assistant Coach) and Karen Linder (Kent State ret. / Emeriti) will be recognized for their service during the Awards Brunch at the NFCA Convention in Louisville.

NFCA Board of Directors (Effective Jan. 1, 2024)
Bold denotes new members

Executive Board
President – Larissa Anderson, University of Missouri
Past President – Kate Drohan, Northwestern University
Vice President, Awards – Courtney Deifel, University of Arkansas
Vice President, Membership – Now-Allah James, New York University
Vice President, Education – Craig Snider, Texas Tech University
Vice President, Playing Rules – Joe Yegge, Missouri Western University
Vice President, Publications – Chris Malveaux, University of Tennessee

Group Representatives
Division I – Megan Bartlett, Arizona State University
Division II – Les Stuedeman, University of Alabama in Huntsville
Division III – Leslie Huntington, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
NAIA – Pat Reardon, Central Methodist University
NJCAA – Lana Ross, Kansas City Kansas Community College
Cal JC – Gabrielle Brixey, West Hills College Coalinga
NWAC – Jessica Buel, Clackamas Community College
High School – Kristi Williams, Blue Springs South High School
Travel Ball – Frank Ehrenfeld, Pennsbury
Assistant Coach – Heather Gelbard, Purdue University
Assistant Coach – Megan Bammmann, Tiffin University
Emeriti – Julie Lenhart, Cortland State University (ret.)

New Committee Members (Effective Jan. 1, 2024)

NCAA Division I All-American – Deanna Gumpf, University of Notre Dame (Mid-Atlantic Region); Jenny Parsons, Central Arkansas University (Southeast Region)

NCAA Division II All-American  - Annie Van Wetzinga, Metropolitan State University of Denver (South Central Region)

NCAA Division III All-American – Kate Bowen, Springfield College (Region II); Donnie Danklefsen, Trine University (Region VII); George Wares, Central College (Region IX); Wade Wilson, Texas Lutheran (Region X)

NAIA All-American – Mike Minick, College of Coastal Georgia (Region I); Jessica Pistole, Southern Oregon University (Region III); Garland Shirley, Clarke University (Region V)

NJCAA DI All-American – Joshua Barnes, Crowder College (Midwest); Joe Guthrie, Northeast Alabama Community College (South); Jaime Rose, Hutchinson Community College (West); Chris Berry, McLennan Community College (West)

NJCAA DII All-American – Eric Lee, Louisburg College (East); Eric Freese, Kirkwood Community College (Midwest); Tori Dew, Jones College (South)

High School Steering Committee – Eric Doane, Lee’s Summit West High School (Mo. / Region I); Lisa Moss, Piedmont High School (Okla. / Region II); Kevin Schimmelpfennig, Vallivue High School (Idaho / Region III); Mark Petryniec, Huntley High School (Ill. / Region V); Jeremy Harper, Ponchatoula High School (La. / Region VI); David Burbrink, Lakota West High School (Ohio / Region VIII); Tim Frappa (Tonawanda High School (N.Y.) / Region IX); Kathy Berardi, Dexter Southfield High School (Mass. / Region X)

DEI Committee – Christina Sutcliffe, Northern Illinois University; Christian Conrad, University of Arizona; Tyra Perry, University of Illinois; Sara Curran-Headley, SUNY Oneonta; Monica Harrison, Carnegie Mellon University;  Garland Shirley, Clarke University

Awards Committee – Courtney Oliver, Wichita State (NCAA DI); Devin Bennett, San Bernardino Valley College (Cal JC); Ron Frost, Nicholls State University (Assistant Coach)

Events Committee – Alivia Forshey, University of Missouri; Jamie Mueller, Wartburg College

Mentoring Committee – Alyssa Tiumalu, Iona University; Cheyenne Bricker, Southern Oregon University; Scooter Prince, D’Iberville High School (Miss.); Chris Januchowski, Jax Fusion (Fla.)

Playing Rules Committee – Kate Malveaux, University of Tennessee (NCAA DI); Shawn Woods, Oklahoma Wesleyan University (NAIA); Dan Gill, Seaforth High School (N.C.); Jason Gallo, Virginia Phoenix (Travel Ball)

Publications Committee – Arica Abrams, Fort Collins High School (Colo.)

Ethics Committee – Kimberly Stiles, College of Holy Cross; Kirk Newring, Gretna Storm

Hall of Fame Committee – Hallie Blackney, Missouri Southern State University (NCAA DII); Michala Cimino, Bellevue University (NAIA); Debbie Huntze-Rooney, San Jose City College (Cal JC)