LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is pleased to announce VA Glory founder and NFCA Hall of Famer Suzy Willemssen as the 2026 recipient of the Association’s Humanitarian Award. Willemssen is being recognized for her efforts in the fight against cancer and more than two decades of advocacy for equity in girls sports.
“There are coaches who win games, those who develop players, those who build programs, and then there are coaches who use the game as a platform to change lives,” said Kevin Bednoski her longtime assistant coach. “For decades, Suzy Willemssen has done exactly that.
Under her leadership, Virginia Glory’s Strikeout Cancer Camp and Tournament has raised more than $750,000 for Children’s National Hospital and cancer research over the past nine years, starting as an idea to use softball for something larger than competition. Now it has grown into one of the most meaningful charitable traditions in travel softball. The monetary number is extraordinary, but it doesn’t tell the whole story as umpires reduce their pay to give back, college coaches donate their compensation and field rental is discounted. Everyone sacrifices something to maximize the philanthropy of the event.
“Having had the privilege of coaching alongside Suzy, I have seen something that no resume, list of awards, fundraising total or win-loss record can adequately capture,” said Bednoski. “Helping people is simply Suzy's default setting. Future generations will grow up believing their fields, their sport, & their dreams deserve the same investment as anyone else's.”
Her advocacy has helped secure more than $10 million in public investment to improve softball facilities in Fairfax County, Va. During Willemssen’s time with the Glory, she has created opportunities and mentorship for hundreds of young women, while devoting decades to volunteer leadership and advocacy within her community.
“Suzy does not simply want to develop better softball players, she wants to develop women who understand they have the ability and responsibility to make the world around them better.”
Behind the scenes, Willemssen has spent countless hours on the phone, Zoom and email with players and coaches. Her messages to former players range from who needed encouragement on that day to teaching them to understand and carry forward the legacy of Title IX. Part of that came during the 50th anniversary of Title IX when Willemssen made its history part of their education. She wanted her players to understand that today’s opportunities did not simply appear. Someone fought for them.
“Few people embody that mission of this award more completely than Coach Suzy Willemssen,” emphasized Bednoski. “For Suzy, service is not an initiative or something added to her coaching resume. Service is the foundation she has built her life in softball.”
The NFCA’s Humanitarian Award recognizes a member coach who has selflessly dedicated time toward the long-term betterment of the community and/or engaged in charitable activities in the service of others. Willemssen will be honored in front of her peers on Dec. 12 during the NFCA Awards Brunch at the 2026 NFCA Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.
Past winners:
2025: Kathy Veroni, NFCA Hall of Fame (Western Illinois University, ret.)
2024: Beth Torina, Louisiana State University
2023: Dan Grantz, Lafayette High School (KY)
2022: Janae Shirley, East Texas Baptist University
2021: Kent Chambers, Bob Jones High School (AL)
2019: Joelle Della Volpe, Immaculate Conception High School (NJ)
2018: Melissa McElain, University of San Diego
2017: Mark Larriba, Flower Mound High School (TX)
2017: Mark Larriba, Flower Mound High School (TX)
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