LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Nine member coaches were honored as the NFCA revealed its collegiate recipients of the 2024 Easton
/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award, the Association announced on Tuesday.
Garnering honors this year are Becca Carden (Boston University / DI), Kelsey Thompson (Augustana University / DII), Gabby Smart (DePauw University / DIII), Chad Bray (College of Saint Mary / NAIA), Jessica Smith (McLennan Community College / NJCAA DI), Kevin Connell (Northeast Mississippi Community College / NJCAA DII), Al Falkowski (Corning Community College / NJCAA DIII), Jim Bollier (Mt. San Antonio College / Cal JC) and Cierra Woods (Clackamas Community College / NWAC).
These awards salute the efforts of coaches from the various NFCA membership categories for their tireless dedication to the sport of softball and to the continued education, growth and development of young women, both on and off the playing field. The winners will be recognized on Dec. 7 during the NFCA Convention's Awards Brunch in Dallas, Texas.
The winners were nominated by NFCA member coaches and selected by a panel of their peers on the NFCA Awards Committee.
Carden, who has spent nine seasons at Boston University, has played a key role in the success of program over those years, which included a record-setting 2024 season, witnessing the Terriers post a school-record 53 wins (53-6-1), go undefeated in Patriot League (18-0) action, earn an NCAA Regional bid and finish 23rd in the USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll. Carden oversaw an offense that finished 15th in Division I in batting average and 10th in triples per game, while three Terrier batters were ranked in the top 10 in base hits. She has had a multitude of responsibilities over her years at BU and head coach Ashley Waters emphasizes that Carden continuously goes above and beyond to give the student-athletes the best possible experience. No task is too big or too small; if something needs to be done she is willing to do it.
Since rejoining Augustana in 2018, Thompson has been an integral part of the program, which in 2024 made it back to the NCAA Division II World Series for the third time in five full seasons. Part of a staff that does not separate duties, Thompson is involved in all aspects of the program which includes serving as the lead hitting and pitching coach. As head coach Gretta Melsted puts it – “Kelsey is literally an extension of me at practice and in games. We do everything together as coaches, whether it’s planning practice or doing laundry.” She oversaw one of the most potent offenses in Division II, while also mentoring a first-team NFCA Division I All-America pitcher. Melsted goes on to mention that Thompson pours her heart and soul into the Augustana program. She stepped up even more for Melsted and the team this year when Melsted’s father passed away during the season. Melsted has complete and utter faith and trust in her and is thankful that she has someone of Thompson’s caliber willing to continue to be her right hand at Augustana.
Smart, who has been on the DePauw staff since 2017, wore many hats last year as head coach Erica Hanrahan was dealing with her step-father’s brain cancer returning as well as her mother’s life-threating accident. In the fall, Smart helped with practices, meetings, recruiting and much more while Hanrahan was absent attending to her step-father’s repeated treatments at Northwestern neuro-oncology. In January, Hanrahan’s mother, while in Florida, spent six weeks in the ICU, and as an only child stayed with her until she was able to be discharged. Smart, without hesitation or complaint, ran the program by herself for a month as DePauw was preparing for the 2024 season. On top of getting the team prepared, she organized an outpouring of help and gifts for Hanrahan and her mother. Once Hanrahan returned and her mother and step-father moved in with her, Smart orchestrated the entire team to gather basic supplies and groceries for the family. As Hanrahan boasts – “Gabby was a head coach, an assistant coach, a mentor, a friend and virtually a saint. She couldn't deserve this award more for her caring heart and exceptional leadership.”
Bray, a part-time assistant, stepped in and led the program after head coach and his wife Carolyn Bray was struck in the head by a line drive while coaching third base on March 17 at the Spring Games. After the incident, he stayed with the team and coached them the rest of the trip, while spending the nights in the ICU. Not only did he coach the team for the next six weeks, Bray served as his wife’s primary caregiver and held down his high school teaching job. Though running on fumes, Bray went above and beyond to care for the mental well-being of the student-athletes, who were traumatized by the accident, by bringing in therapy dogs and making sure players were getting individual counseling should they need it. Even though the team lost 17 straight games during that time, the student-athletes showed their appreciation for him stepping up when the team needed it the most. Carolyn Bray was able to slowly work her way back to practice and games in a limited fashion and the team was able to right the ship late in the season. As she emphasizes “My injury could not come at a worse time in the season, but his dedication was a saving grace. His coaching stipend does not come close to thanking him for what he did for our ladies this season.” Multiple colleagues also showed their support for Chad Bray. Dordt University’s Jeff Zomer stated that Chad navigated an extremely difficult and tumultuous time for the program. This is a remarkable story of going above and beyond in many areas and keeping the health and well-being of his wife and student athletes as the main focus.
Smith has been instrumental in McLellan’s rise into being one of the top NJCAA DI softball programs in the country. Smith’s pitching staff has played a pivotal part in the success of the program following a 61-4 record and national runner-up finish in 2024. The Highlanders ranked second in shutouts (24), third in ERA (1.99) and fifth in opponent’s batting average (.216) and WHIP (1.09). She has mentored three NTJCAC Pitchers of the Year over the past five seasons. Additionally, Smith serves as the team’s academic advisor seeing the program rank sixth nationally amongst two-year colleges the past two years on the Easton/NFCA Top 10 GPA list. According to head coach Chris Berry, coach Smith is highly respected by Division I schools in their region and a great asset to junior college softball. Grayson College assistant coach Jason Miller adds that she is a tireless recruiter and competitor and it has played a big role in McLennan’s ascent to the top of NJCAA DI.
Connell, who oversees NEMCC’s offense and defense, while also being the lead recruiter, has been pivotal to the success of the program over his eight seasons in the dugout. The Tigers have put together three consecutive 30-plus win seasons for the first time in program history, reaching the region playoff and making a 2022 NJCAA DII Softball World Series appearances to go along with numerous individual and team records. According to head coach Jody Long, Connell has developed a love for softball since he arrived at Northeast. He’s a tireless recruiter and represents the program at multiple camps. He’s built a travel organization with the goal of developing the game across the state of Mississippi.
Since joining the Corning staff in 2021 after 40 years as a high school head coach, Falkowski has mentored five NFCA and NJCAA All-America pitchers and the 2024 NJCAA DIII National Pitcher of the Year. His guidance has produced dividends as Corning pitchers rank in the top four in ERA, strikeouts and strikeouts per seven innings. Falkowski has helped the Red Barons to four MSAC Championships, four Region III titles and four NJCAA DIII Softball World Series appearances, which includes three national runner-up finishes. According to head coach Stacey Johnson, “Al has given many years of his life to the game of softball and this honor would be a perfect way to recognize him for all he has given to the game and the young women whose lives he has changed.”
Bollier, who retired after the 2024 season, spent 16 seasons as an assistant coach at Mt. SAC. He’s coached and helped develop Mountie pitchers to numerous awards which include seven NFCA All-Americans, seven South Coast Conference Pitchers of the Year and three 3C2A State Pitchers of the Year in addition to catchers receiving two Diamond/NFCA Catcher of the Year honors and one Rawlings Gold Glove.
The lead assistant and pitching coach at Clackamas, Woods takes on numerous duties which includes recruiting, running practices, preparing travel arrangements and laundry. She has developed several pitchers and oversees the scouting and charting of opponents. Head coach Jessica Buel adds, “Cierra takes on a lot of responsibility, more than most assistants. She is the first to arrive and the last to leave and is a person who makes me better at my job every day.”
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Easton/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
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