OKLAHOMA CITY – Fourteen of the 2019 Top 50 “Watch List” athletes join 36 other student-athletes on the “Watch List” for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. Announced today by USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award enters its 18th season and recognizes outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female collegiate softball players across the country.
2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year “Watch List”
Previous recipients of the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, the most prestigious individual honor in NCAA Division I Softball, are UCLA catcher Stacey Nuveman (2002), Texas pitcher Cat Osterman (2003, 2005 and 2006), Florida State pitcher Jessica Van der Linden (2004), Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott (2007), Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher (2008), Washington pitcher Danielle Lawrie (2009 and 2010), Stanford shortstop Ashley Hansen (2011), Oklahoma's Keilani Ricketts (2012 and 2013), Florida State's Lacey Waldrop (2014), Florida’s Lauren Haeger (2015), Michigan’s Sierra Romero (2016), Florida’s Kelly Barnhill (2017) and UCLA’s Rachel Garcia (2018 and 2019).
The preseason “Watch List” includes 28 seniors, 13 juniors and 9 sophomores, with freshman ineligible for consideration. (Freshman can be considered for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award once they have competed at the collegiate level). Athletes named to the “Watch List” represent 33 NCAA Division I universities and 19 athletic conferences. UCLA leads the way among universities with four athlete representatives, while five universities (Alabama, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas and Washington) have three athletes on the “Watch List” apiece. The Pac-12 and Big Ten Conferences are also well-represented with five member-schools, while four universities represent the Southeastern Conference (SEC).
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced April 22. While an athlete does not have to be on the “Watch List” to be considered for the Top 25, the eventual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will come from the Top 25 Finalists. The Top 10 Finalists will be announced May 6 and the Top 3 announced May 20. The 2020 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be revealed May 26.
In addition to bestowing the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, USA Softball is now in its 18th season of presenting the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll which is announced Tuesdays during the regular season. The preseason ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll was released Jan. 28 with Alabama, Washington, Oklahoma, UCLA and Arizona taking the Top 5 spots respectively.
Follow along with NCAA Softball all season long at USASoftball.com.
-- Courtesy of USA Softball
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I
Head Coach: Patty Gasso
Associate Head Coach: Jennifer Rocha | Assistant: JT Gasso | Volunteer Assistant: Alyssa Reina | Graduate Manager: Michael Lewis
GREAT LAKES REGION | University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Head Coach: Jamie Trachsel
Assistants: Piper Ritter, Katie Rietkovich | Volunteer Assistant: Alyssa Reina | Director of Operations: Cody Shoemaker | Graduate Manager: Michael Lewis
MID-ATLANTIC REGION | Virginia Tech
Head Coach: Pete D'Amore
Assistant Coaches: Kirin Kumar, Doug Gillis | Volunteer Assistant: Matt Guemmer
MIDEAST REGION | Louisiana Tech University
Head Coach: Mark Montgomery
Associate Head Coach: Emerald Doria | Assistant Coaches: Bianca Duran, Mike Forsythe | Graduate Manager: Brooke Morris
MIDEAST REGION | Southeast Missouri State University
Head Coach: Mark Redburn
Assistant Coaches: Kristen Jones, Bill Graham
MIDWEST REGION | Oklahoma State University
Head Coach: Kenny Gajewski
Assistant Coaches: Stacie Pestrak, Jeff Cottrill | Volunteer Assistant: Cody Barham
NORTHEAST REGION | James Madison University
Head Coach: Loren LaPorte
Associate Head Coach: Jennifer Herzig | Assistant Coach: Libby Morris | Volunteer Assistant: Derek Sauder
PACIFIC REGION | University of Washington
Head Coach: Heather Tarr
Assistant Coaches: J.T. D’Amico, Lance Glasoe | Volunteer Assistant: Whitney Jones | Director of Operations: Amy LeFurgy
SOUTH REGION | University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
Head Coach: Pat Murphy
Associate Head Coach: Alyson Habetz | Assistant Coach: Stephanie Prothro | Volunteer Assistant: Brynne Dordel | Director of Operations: Kate Harris
SOUTHEAST REGION | University of Florida
Head Coach: Tim Walton
Assistant Coaches: Aric Thomas, Mike Bosch | Volunteer Assistant: Jolene Henderson
WEST REGION | University of California, Los Angeles
Head Coach: Kelly Inouye-Perez
Assistant Coaches: Lisa Fernandez, Kirk Walker | Volunteer Assistant: Kylee Perezz
NCAA Division II
NCAA Division II
Head Coach: Diane Lokey
Assistant Coach: Laura Altenburger
CENTRAL REGION | Augustana University
Head Coach: Gretta Melsted
Assistant Coaches: Nat Wagner, Kelsey Thompson
EAST REGION | Long Island University Post
Head Coach: Jamie Apicella
Assistant Coaches: Megan Butterworth, Lou Vanacore
MIDWEST REGION | Grand Valley State University
Head Coach: Dana Callihan
Assistant Coaches: Jen Rivera, Aaron Daldos, Jessi Ramos
SOUTH REGION | University of West Florida
Head Coach: Ashliegh McLean
Assistant Coach: Emma Johansen | Graduate Assistant: Becca Taylor | Student Assistant: Taylor Bayness
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION | Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Head Coach: Craig Nicholson
Assistant Coach: Justin Lewis | Graduate Assistant: Melina Sanchez
SOUTHEAST REGION | Young Harris College
Head Coach: Kayla Lucas
Assistant Coach: Amanda Henderson | Graduate Assistants: Hannah Reppert, Sara Alderman
WEST REGION | University of California San Diego
Head Coach: Patti Gerckens
Associate Head Coach: Jessica Millsap | Assistant Coaches: Megan Griffith, Nicole Hennessey | Volunteer Assistant: Ray Noelte
NCAA Division III
NCAA Division III
Head Coach: Dawn Simmons
Assistant Coaches: Mike Jennings, Audra Della Rosa Bianco, Danielle Powell, MacKenzie Mount | Volunteer Assistants: Nicole Dawson, J’nae Critchley
CENTRAL REGION | Trine University
Head Coach: Donnie Danklefsen
Assistant Coaches: Brittany Harvey, Dennis Smith
EAST REGION | The College of New Jersey
Head Coach: Sally Miller
Assistant Coaches: Val Suto, Gina Massaro
GREAT LAKES REGION | Illinois Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Tiffany Prager
Assistant Coaches: Nikki Miller, Kimmy Hassel, Bob Grimes, Lyle Day | Director of Operations: Stephanie Alvarez-Rivera
MIDWEST REGION | University of St. Thomas (Minn.)
Head Coach: John Tschida
Assistant Coaches: Jim Tschida, Brad Horstman, Tim Gormley, Erica Wilson, Megan DuPuis
NEW ENGLAND REGION | Eastern Connecticut State University
Head Coach: Diana Pepin
Assistant Coaches: Mark Correia, Tom Madera, Dawn Brolin
NORTHEAST REGION | Ithaca College
Head Coach: Deb Pallozzi
Assistant Coach: Rinae Olsen, Dan Raymond, Payton Cutting, Stacey DiGiorgio
WEST REGION | Texas Lutheran University
Head Coach: Wade Wilson
Assistant Coaches: Olivia Van Hook, Dennis Moe, Ed Zarzabal
NAIA
NAIA
Head Coach: Kat Ihlenburg
Assistant Coaches: John Ihlenburg, Tony Medders
REGION II | University of Mobile
Head Coach: Alison Sellers-Cook
Assistant Coaches: Steve Alcorn, Kirstyn Joiner
REGION III | Vanguard University
Head Coach: Beth Renkoski
Assistant Coach: Sony Mitchell
REGION IV | University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
Head Coach: Jadyn Wallis
Assistant Coaches: Kayla Adams, Ken Richardson
REGION V | Indiana University Southeast
Head Coach: Joe Witten
Associate Head Coach: Bill Pierce | Assistant Coaches: Kendra Deark-Witten, Brookelyn Visker
REGION VI | Marian University Indianapolis
Head Coach: Scott Fleming
Assistant Coaches: Hannah Williams, Mike Henderson
NJCAA Division I
NJCAA Division I
Head Coach: Maria Winn-Ratliff
Assistant Coach: Eric Henderson
SOUTH REGION | College of Central Florida
Head Coach: Kevin Fagan
Assistant Coach: Mike Lingle
WEST REGION | Howard College
Head Coach: Kelly Raines
Assistant Coach: Shelby Shelton
NJCAA Division II
NJCAA Division II
Head Coach: Chuck Slater
Assistant Coaches: Bob Baxter, Jess Dubbs, Mike Dubbs, Bill Saunders
MIDWEST REGION | Des Moines Area Community College
Head Coach: Bob Ligouri
Assistant Coaches: Thana Heller, Molly Bolibaugh, John Wilkinson
SOUTH REGION | East Central Community College
Head Coach: Eric Neel
Assistant Coach: Emily Church
Cal JC
Cal JC
Head Coach: Debbie Huntze-Rooney
Assistant Coaches: Terrell Jones, Brittney Guitierrez, Chuck Caldera, Debie Smith
SOUTH REGION | Fullerton College
Co-Head Coaches: Marian “Speedy” Mendoza, Crystal Aguirre
Assistant Coaches: Celina Gonzalez, Brandon Maurer, Angelica “Jelly” De’Angelo, Ru Andrade | Strength Coach: Robert Miranda
High School
High School
Head Coach: Deborah Schwartz
Assistant Coaches: Dawn Dziedzic, Corey Schwartz, Kathleen Sharp, Jordan Weed
NORTH REGION | New Palestine High School (Ind.)
Head Coach: Ed Marcum
Assistant Coaches: Alyssa Dillard, Michelle Hokl, Audrey East, Matt Hayden
SOUTH REGION | Academy at the Lakes (Fla.)
Head Coach: Diane Stephenson
Assistant Coaches: John Counts, Robbie Blankenship, Jordyn Counts
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION | Louisville Male High School (Ky.)
Head Coach: Josh Bloomer
Assistant Coaches: Annie Gordon, Erika Downey, Ron Pence
WEST REGION | Artesia High School (N.M.)
Head Coach: Sandra Pulido
Assistant Coaches: Casey Crandall, Monica Reyes, Kim Smith, Vanessa Lopez
Travel Ball
Travel Ball
Co-Head Coaches: Josh Johnson, Jenny Parker
NORTH REGION | Beverly Bandits 16u - Team Conroy (Ill.)
Head Coach: Bill Conroy
Assistant Coaches: Rex Mack, Seth Holloway, Nick Carver, Casey Skeens
SOUTH REGION | Tennessee Mojo 2021
Head Coach: Brooks Cherry
Assistant Coaches: Wayne Key, Mark Sellers
SOUTH CENTRAL REGION | Texas Glory 2024
Head Coach: Lee Velazquez
Assistant Coach: Trae Watkins
WEST REGION | EC Bullets California 2020
Head Coaches: A.J. Robinson, John Kubski
Assistant Coaches: Keith Carden, Erin DaSilva
