Oklahoma City University head coach Phil McSpadden and assistant Bobbi Towers have been named the 2007 NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year, the association announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Stars staff will be honored at the 2007 NFCA National Convention which will be held Nov. 28-Dec. 1 at the Las Vegas Hilton.
McSpadden and Towers earned the accolade after guiding OCU to an NAIA-record eighth national title. The Stars finished the season with a 53-6 mark. Oklahoma City won the Sooner Athletic Conference title with an impressive 21-1 mark.
OCU was also honored as the Southwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year. Other regional winners include:
East Region — Shorter College
Head Coach: Melanie Carter
Assistant Coach: Al Thomas
In her first season as head coach at Shorter, Carter led the team to a 44-12 record and the program’s first berth in the NAIA National Tournament. The team
advanced to the finals of the Region XIII tournament after claiming the Southern States Athletic Conference regular-season crown.
Great Lakes Region — Bethel College
Head Coach: Anna Welsh
Assistant Coaches: Samantha Creakbaum, Stephanie Hochstetler and Jeff Welsh
Welsh and her coaching staff guided Bethel to the best season in school history as the Pilots finished the year 45-10 and advanced to the NAIA National Tournament where they went 2-2 in pool play. Bethel also captured the Regional VIII title this season after winning the Mid-Central College Conference tournament championship.
Midwest Region — William Penn
Head Coach: Mike Christner
Assistant Coach: Steph Christner
The Christners continued the success that William Penn has enjoyed, putting together a 12th winning season with a 46-14 record and 21-3 mark in the Midwest Classic Conference. The Lady Statesmen earned another national tournament berth after claiming the Region VIII tournament title as well as the MCC regular-season and tournament championships.
West Region — Point Loma Nazarene
Head Coach: Dave Williams
Assistant Coaches: Cheryl Schaefer and Ruth Atkins (Grad. Asst.)
Williams and the PLNU staff led the Sea Lions to a 44-11 mark and the program’s second national runner-up finish. Point Loma Nazarene capped the year with a No. 3 national ranking after it went 18-6 and finished second in the Golden State Athletic Conference.
