LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eight NCAA Division II programs were selected by their peers as the 2023 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Friday.
Representing each of the NFCA’s eight Division II regions, these respective coaching staffs – East Stroudsburg University (Atlantic), University of Central Oklahoma (Central), Wilmington University (East), University of Indianapolis (Midwest), University of Tampa (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central), University of North Georgia (Southeast) and California State University San Marcos (West) - are now eligible for the ATEC/NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 13.
Six programs – East Stroudsburg, Central Oklahoma, Wilmington, UT Tyler, North Georgia and Cal State San Marcos – are currently competing at the NCAA Division II Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by member head coaches.
Atlantic – East Stroudsburg
Head Coach: Jaime Wohlbach
Assistant Coaches: Erica Molinaro, Bo Vicendese
Graduate Assistant: Rachel Seiverd
Guided East Stroudsburg to its first-ever National Championship appearance and are the No. 6 overall seed at the tournament … As the region’s No. 1 seed, the Warriors swept through the Atlantic 1 Regional … In the Super Regional, ESU rallied from an 0-1 hole against the University of Charleston with a pair of shutouts to advance … Set a program-record for wins (43), nine more than last season’s record 34.
Central – Central Oklahoma
Head Coach: Cody White
Assistant Coaches: Jon Hunter, Jordan Dixon
Student Assistant: Dustie Barners
Earned the No. 2 overall seed at the NCAA DII Championships … Making first appearance under coach White and fourth overall … Claimed Central Region crown, rallying from a game-one loss to Southern Arkansas with 5-4 and 5-2 wins … They rallied from a 4-2 deficit in game two to force if-necessary game … Ranked in the top 10 of the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll all season … Posted a school-record 52 wins and rank sixth in Division II with an .881 winning percentage.
East – Wilmington
Head Coach: Mike Shehorn
Assistant Coaches: James Brittingham, Jerry Grasso, Tom Freeland
Steered the Wildcats to their first-ever National Championship appearance … Earned the No. 2 seed in the East Region and swept through Regionals before edging top-seeded Adelphi, 2-1 in the Super Regional … Entered the National Championship at the No. 4 overall seed … Ended the regular season ranked 24th in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll … Posted program-record 44 victories … Captured Central Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament crowns … Shehorn was named CACC Coach of the Year.
Midwest – Indianapolis
Head Coach: Melissa Frost
Assistant Coach: Ben Ferrell
Graduate Assistants: Leah Buck, Carson Hackerd
Guided the Greyhounds to a 53-10 record and a Super Regional appearance … Collected a Great Lakes Valley regular-season title … Earned the No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region … Ranked in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll top 10 the majority of the season … Posted the second most victories in a season and the most since 54 in 2013.
South – Tampa
Head Coach: Leslie Kanter
Assistant Coaches: Denise Rubio, Katie Neubauer, Jaci Davis
Top seed in the NCAA South Region … Ranked No. 1 in the NFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll for the first time in program history and held the top spot for final four weeks of the regular season… Reached the program’s first-ever Super Regional … Finished the season with a program-record 44 victories a 44-5 overall record … Captured the Sunshine State Conference regular-season title … Kanter was recognized as the SSC Coach of the Year.
South Central – University of Texas at Tyler
Head Coach: Mike Reed
Associate Head Coach: Whitney Wyly
Assistant Coaches: Anthony Springer & Shannon Klaus
Third consecutive year earning this honor … Top overall seed at the NCAA Division II Championship for second consecutive year … Captured their third straight Lone Star Conference regular-season title and first tournament championship … Entered the national championship with 59-4 mark, setting a program record for wins and tied for the NCAA top spot in victories … Perfect 33-0 at home in 2023 … Riding a Division II-best 36-game winning streak heading into the championship … Reed named LSC Coach of the Year for third straight year … Ranked in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll’s top four all season.
Southeast – North Georgia
Head Coach: Mike Davenport
Assistant Coach: Alea White
As the No. 1 seed, UNG cruised through the Southeast Regional and Super Regional with a 5-0 mark, posting four shutouts and outscoring the opposition 33-3 … Tied for the most wins in Division II with 59 … No. 3 overall national seed … Shared the Peach Belt regular season title and won their ninth straight tournament championship … Won 38 straight games to end the regular season … Ranked in the top three of NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll, including five weeks at No. 1, the entire regular season.
West – Cal State San Marcos
Head Coach: Stef Ewing
Assistant Coach: A.J. Robinson
Guided the Cougars to their first-ever national championship appearance … Won the West 2 regional with a 3-0 mark as the No. 6 seed, knocking off host and No. 2 Sonoma State and No. 3 Cal State Dominguez Hills in the process … They continued their run on the road in the Super Regionals, sweeping No. 1 West seed Concordia Irvine … Allowed five runs over their 5-0 run to Chattanooga, outscoring the opposition 38-5.
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ATEC/NFCA NCAA Division II Regional Coaching Staffs of Year
