Wallace State-Hanceville has been named the NJCAA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced today. 

Head coach Jayne Clem and assistant coach Tracy Grindrod led the Lady Lions to the NJCAA Division I Championship, becoming the first Alabama school to win that title. Clem was also recognized as the Karen L. Sykes Outstanding Coach of the Tournament for the NJCAA Division I Championship Tournament. 

The Lady Lions advanced to the Championship tournament by winning the Region 22 Championship. Wallace-Hanceville also participated in the NFCA’s Junior College Leadoff Classic over the first weekend in March, finishing second at the tournament to Indian River CC. 

Wallace-Hanceville finished the season with a 41-game winning streak over two months, including wins in all five games at the national tournament. Their last defeat was on March 16 and their final record for the 2008 season was 68-8. The Lady Lions also had a nation-leading five Louisville Slugger/NFCA NJCAA Division I All-America selections. 

The team’s 2008 success follows a successful 2007 campaign when Wallace-Hanceville became the first Alabama team to advance to the national tournament, finishing seventh. 

Regional Coaching Staff of the Year winners include: 

Midwest Region 
San Jacinto College (41-17) 
Head Coach: Kelly Saenz 
Assistant Coaches: Dionna Lopez, James Perry, Kevin Mentzel 

First time in school history to make the NJCAA National Tournament, and finished 4th. Beat three ranked team to win their Regional Tournament for their first ever birth at Nationals. Coyotes had three players named to the All-Region XIV Team, five players named to the NFCA All-Midwest Region Team, and had one selected as a Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American. 

South Region 
Wallace-Hanceville Please see above for information. 

West Region 
Yavapai College (46-18) 
Head Coach: Stacy Iveson, Assistant Coaches: Nicki Johnson, Lisa Parks 

In their first season after a 27-year hiatus, Yavapai concludes the season as the ACCAC Division I Champions and NJCAA Region I Division I Champions with an overall record of 46-18. Iveson's squad featured five players named to the NFCA All-West Region Team, four selected to the All-Region I Team, and have five tabbed as Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Americans.