LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Roxanne Rehberg, head coach of the United States Naval Academy’s club program, is the first recipient of the brand-new Carolyn Watley Memorial Scholarship for Moms Who Coach, a national tribute to the women who built our game from the bleachers up. This scholarship is presented by Natasha Watley, the Natasha Watley Foundation (NWF) and Sue Enquist, NFCA Hall of Famer and former UCLA head coach.
The scholarship is awarded to a mother or maternal caregiver who is actively coaching fastpitch for a minimum of three years who seeks and desires an educational opportunity and is in need of financial assistance to attend the NFCA National Convention. It was selected by the NFCA Awards Committee
, Natasha Watley and a member from the NWF Coach Mentor program. Recipients receive a complimentary NFCA Convention registration, travel reimbursement up to $700, up to four nights paid at the Convention host hotel, and a one-year complimentary membership with the Association.
Rehberg has been leading the USNA’s club team since 2017, returning to the coaching landscape after her husband was stationed at the U.S. Naval Academy as a permanent military professor. At the time of her hiring, her daughters were aged one and four. What initially was a volunteer assistant position quickly turned into the head job following the retirement of the previous head coach. During her time in Annapolis, Md., Rehberg has steered the Midshipmen to a pair of National Club Softball Association (NCSA) national titles and plays a highly-competitive schedule that includes NCAA Division I, II and III programs.
“These women love the sport and share that love with countless local softball players, who look up to them for their leadership and love of the game,” said Rehberg. “My daughters are amongst those young players, and have essentially grown up alongside the program and have learned so much about life, leadership, respect and camaraderie.”
Rehberg had to step away from coaching for a few years to have her daughters and be present for them due to her husband’s active duty military orders. She stated she wouldn’t trade that time with them because that is how they formed an incredible bond. She has had offers to coach at other schools, but has stayed at the Naval Academy because of the young women she coaches, who she said are incredibly impressive and inspiring.
“Being part of this program, where they truly play for the love of the game, not NIL deals or hope of a professional career and knowing they are going to commission into the U.S Navy or U.S. Marine Corps, is truly an honor, even if it is for just two hours each day, that cannot be matched,” said Rehberg. “The lessons I have learned and relationships I have formed with these young women, and my daughters have formed with these Naval and Marine Corp officers, is reward enough.”
“I've had the opportunity to work alongside Roxanne for several years through both Broadneck Baseball Softball Club and the Annapolis Angels organizations, and I can say without hesitation that she is one of the most influential people I've met in youth softball,” said Robb Parks, Annapolis Angels 12U head coach. “She has an incredible ability to balance being a coach, a mentor, a leader, and a mother, all while keeping the focus exactly where it belongs—on helping young women become better people through the game. As a mother of two daughters, Roxanne leads by example every day. Katie and Shea have watched firsthand what servant leadership looks like. They have seen their mother give up evenings, weekends, and countless hours so other young athletes could have opportunities to learn and compete.”
It is the second NFCA Convention scholarship (Natasha Watley Scholarship for Social Change) provided by the NWF and Enquist and the third that involves the NWF (Geri Ann Glasco Memorial Scholarship). It honors Carolyn Watley who raised her only child to be the first Black woman to play softball for the United States in the Olympics.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its extensive awards and scholarships program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from NFCA podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of 7,000 coaches today!
