LOUISVILLE, Ky. – While a lot of the 2015 NFCA National Convention program, held Dec. 2-5 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis, is dedicated to education, another focal point is the recognition of coaching achievements. These accomplishments range from earning a 100th victory to being inducted into the prestigious NFCA Hall of Fame.
Over the course of four days, coaches will be recognized for victory milestones, on the field success, off the field success and perseverance and illustrious careers.
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Highlighting the convention is the 2015 Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Dec. 4. This year’s class of Jo Evans (Texas A&M), Anita Kubicka (Montclair State) and Clint Myers (Auburn) has generated over 2,800 victories and guided their programs to 44 NCAA tournaments and 17 Women’s College World Series / National Championship appearances. The NFCA has been inducting members into its Hall of Fame since 1991 with the current total standing at 65.
At the Easton Victory Club Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 3, head and associate head coaches receive recognition for milestone victories obtained during the 2015 season, while enjoying friendly conversation over lunch. In 2015, honorees range from 100 wins to this year’s high mark of 1,400 triumphs.
The Coaching Staff of the Year brunch on Saturday, Dec. 5 highlights 2015 and showcases the coaching staffs that guided their teams to successful seasons, including national championships, with regional and national accolades. Along with entire staffs, individuals garner awards in the Assistant Coach of the Year category.
In addition, the Donna Newberry “Perseverance” Award and the Mary Nutter Scholarship recipients are honored. The late John Keyes of North Fort Myers (Fla.) HS, who recently passed away in October, is this year’s Donna Newberry recipient and will be recognized at the Softball Summit on Friday. The award, named for the longtime Muskingum College and 2008 NFCA Hall of Fame coach who died in November 2010 after amassing a 906-419-1 mark over 36 seasons, recognizes an NFCA member coach who has demonstrated extraordinary strength of will and character in the fight to overcome a physical, mental or social adversity that presented an additional challenge to the already demanding job of a coach.
Sheffield (Ala.) head coach Bradley Kimbrough, Bishop Blanchet (Wash.) High School head coach Lisa Olsen and Amherst College assistant coach Taylor Cournoyer were selected as this year’s Mary Nutter winners and will be recognized at the “First Pitch” Opening Welcome on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The educational grant, named for the former Pittsburg State (Kan.) head coach and 1997 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee who founded National Sports Clinics, seeks to continue Nutter’s effort to provide softball coaches at all levels access to the best minds in the sport to help them become better coaches themselves. Recipients receive funding to attend the NFCA National Convention, where they can improve their skills at educational seminars and through interaction with their fellow convention attendees.
