LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The NFCA is pleased to announce Jessica Villegas, first-year head coach at Elizabeth City State University, is the 2025 recipient of the Association’s HBCU Scholarship presented in partnership with Major League Baseball.
Reviewed and voted on by the NFCA Awards Committee, the scholarship is awarded to a current Historically Black College or University (HBCU) coach who has a desire and need for financial assistance, which includes Convention registration, $700 in travel reimbursement and up to four nights at the Convention’s host hotel, to attend the NFCA National Convention, Dec. 10-13 in Las Vegas.
Villegas, who was hired this summer to lead the ECSU softball program, has over 15 years of experience in the game – both as a player and a coach. She honed her coaching skills as an assistant at North Carolina A&T State University, where she earned her master’s in clinical mental health. During her time with the Aggies, Villegas served as the recruiting coordinator, helped develop eight All-MEAC honorees and also mentored and supported 25-plus student-athletes with a strong focus on mental health, personal growth and success both on and off the field.
“Attending the Convention will play a vital role in my growth as a coach and it will directly benefit my student-athletes,” said Villegas. “The opportunity to learn and develop alongside some of the top coaches in college athletics will help me elevate my coaching skills and leadership.”
At the youth level, Villegas worked with USA Preps as a marketing specialist and instructional coach where she developed and delivered workshops for student-athletes, focused on college preparation, recruitment strategies and goal-setting. She also conducted numerous specialized training sessions that focused on advanced mechanics, situational awareness and consistency.
“Despite the challenges of relying on volunteer assistant coaches who are only available a small percentage of the time, I remain dedicated to providing the best experience possible for my student-athletes,” said Villegas. “I’m excited about the chance to learn new drills, improve my coaching techniques and get better at things like scheduling and making the most of indoor facilities. I’m especially looking forward to learning how other coaches handle adversity – something that is very important in this profession. These are lessons that will stay with me throughout my career, and I plan to take everything I learn back to my team and community to help them grow.”
Additionally, Villegas, an All-SWAC selection during her playing career at Jackson State University, volunteered at numerous softball clinics, the Miracle League of High Point and RBI Monarchs Softball Program.
Villiegas will be recognized on Thursday, Dec. 11 during the Convention’s annual mentoring workshop.
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!
