NEW ORLEANS — Several new features and some old favorites highlighted the third day of the record-breaking NFCA Convention on Friday in New Orleans.
The featured event, of course, was the 2016 NFCA Hall of Fame ceremony, enshrining Sam Houston State head coach Bob Brock, Michigan State head coach Jacquie Joseph, former Utah head coach Mona Stevens and University of St. Thomas head coach John Tschida.
The Association also announced its four-person 2017 induction class of Ashland University head coach Sheilah Gulas, retired University of Connecticut head coach Karen Mullins, Batbusters coach Gary Haning and Carson-Newman head coach Vickee Kazee-Hollifield. The quartet will be enshrined at next year’s NFCA Convention on Dec. 6-9 in Las Vegas.
The day started with the second of two new morning workout sessions led by MIT head coach and director of sports performance, Jennifer Williams, followed by a continental breakfast presented by Softball Factory. Another new offering this year, “Operate Like a Pro,” led by the directors of operations for the highly-successful softball programs at the University of Alabama, Nebraska and LSU, was among the many jam-packed rooms at the New Orleans Marriott.
Louisiana-Lafayette head coach Michael Lotief received the Donna Newberry “Perseverance” award and NJCAA Executive Director Mary Ellen Leicht was awarded the NFCA’s Distinguished Service Award at the always-popular Softball Summit, which takes on the hot button issues in the world of softball, and Hall of Fame coaches Sue Enquist, Sandy Jerstad and Scott Whitlock shared some wisdom during the annual Coach Emeriti panel.
Longwood University head coach Kathy Riley offered her thoughts in her “Coaching College Hitters” session, while The Center of Family Development’s Dave Mikula presented his “Supporting Student-Athletes in Sustaining Quality Mental and Behavioral Health,” James Madison head coach Mickey Dean talked defense in his session and Athlete Assessments’ Bo Hanson and the University of Notre Dame softball staff offered insight with the “Inner Workings of a Successful Coaching Staff.”
The high school member group hosted both its All-American Committee meeting and caucus on Friday, while the travel ball caucus and the “Grassroots Summit” were other events specifically tailored to high school, travel ball and youth coaches. The Cal JC group held its annual caucus and several other member groups finished some unfinished business with the second day of their respective caucuses.
The popular exhibit show portion of the Convention closed on Friday with the annual Silent Auction, where exhibitor products could be had for a fraction of their retail value.
The Convention officially wraps up on Saturday with the heralded “Drills, Drills, Drills” clinic, NFCA Champions Brunch honoring regional and national coaching staffs of the year, as well as the Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year honorees, a series of “Chalk Talks,” and presentations on rising in the coaching ranks, transitioning from pitcher to pitching coach, and thoughts on the influence of catching on the game. The two post-Convention NFCC Courses get started, and will run through Monday, and the day’s grand finale is the USA Softball Olympian Celebration Game against the Louisville Slugger Warriors, which starts at 6 p.m. at the University of New Orleans’ Maestri Field at First NBC Ballpark.
