UCLA head coach Sue Enquist, along with assistant coaches Kelly Inouye-Perez and Gina Vecchione, have been tabbed the 2004 Speedline/NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year.
Enquist led the Bruins to their second consecutive national championship in 2004. UCLA finished with a 47-9 record. As the No. 2 national seed, the Bruins swept through the regional tournament and went undefeated at the Women's College World Series, defeating California 3-1 in the national championship game.
In addition to the national honor, the UCLA staff was tabbed Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year by their coaching peers. Other Speedline top regional staffs are:
Mid-Atlantic Region
HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Bill Edwards
Assistant Coaches: Larissa Anderson, Scott Coppola
Edwards led the Pride to the 2004 Colonial Athletic Association championship, the ninth consecutive conference crown for Hofstra. The Pride went 38-21 this season, forcing a second championship game with WCWS participant Stanford in the regional tournament. Hofstra finished No. 21 in the final USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll.
Southeast Region
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: JoAnne Graf
Assistant Coaches: Louie Berndt, Eve Gaw
Graf led the Seminoles to their 26th consecutive winning season and 17th appearance in the NCAA tournament. FSU won its 10th Atlantic Coast Conference championship en route to another appearance in the Women's College World Series. The Seminoles went 62-12 this season, finishing fifth in Oklahoma City and in the final USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll.
Great Lakes Region
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Head Coach: Carol Hutchins
Assistant Coaches: Bonnie Tholl, Jennifer Brundage
Hutchins led the Wolverines to the Big Ten title and the school's seventh appearance in the Women's College World Series. Michigan went 54-13 this season, and finished ranked No. 9 in the final USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll. It marks the eighth time that Hutchins and her staff have been honored with Regional Coaching Staff of the Year accolades.
West Region
LONG BEACH STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Pete Manarino
Assistant Coaches: Kim Sowder, Stephanie Swenson, Ralph Levy
Manarino led the 49ers to one of their best seasons in school history. Long Beach State went 51-13, winning the Big West championship and advancing to its 15th NCAA tournament. Manarino was named the Big West Coach of the Year in 2004, the fifth time that he has received that honor.
Northeast Region
SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Ray Vander May
Assistant Coaches: Jay Nelson, Bob Guerriero
Vander May led the Pirates to the 2004 Big East tournament championship and a fourth place finish at the Waco, Texas, regional tournament. Seton Hall finished the season with a 46-19 record. Vander May has 245 career victories, 205 of which have come in the last six years.
Midwest Region
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA
Head Coach: Patty Gasso
Assistant Coaches: Howard Dobson, Melyssa Lombardi
Gasso led the Sooners to a 45-22-1 record, which included a 4-1 performance at the Tucson, Ariz., regional where they sent then- No. 1 Arizona to the loser's bracket. Oklahoma went on to make its fifth consecutive appearance in the Women's College World Series, where the Sooners finished tied for fifth place. Oklahoma jumped 15 spots to No. 6 in the final USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Poll.
South Region
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Head Coach: Yvette Girouard
Assistant Coaches: James DeFeo, Lori Osterberg
Girouard led the Tigers to a 57-12 record this season, which included the SEC Championship, SEC Tournament Championship, NFCA Leadoff Classic championship and an appearance in the Women's College World Series. The Tigers finished third at the WCWS, forcing a second semifinal contest with California.
Mideast Region
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
Head Coach: Deanna Gumpf
Assistant Coaches: Charmelle Green, Kris Ganeff
Gumpf led Notre Dame to a 49-20 record and the Big East regular season championship, the Irish's sixth conference crown in the last five years. Notre Dame made its sixth consecutive appearance in the NCAA tournament.
