LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The eight programs that reached the 2019 Division II National Championships were selected by their peers as the NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, announced the Association on Tuesday morning.
Representing each of the NFCA’s eight Division II regions, these respective coaching staffs – West Chester University (Atlantic), Augustana University (Central), Long Island University Post (East), Grand Valley State University (Midwest), University of West Florida (South), Texas A&M University-Kingsville (South Central), Young Harris College (Southeast) and University of California, San Diego (West)- are now eligible for the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 12.
The list includes national champion Augustana and national runner-up Texas A&M-Kingsville. Additionally, West Chester garnered its second straight recognition, while TAMUK and Young Harris are first-time coaching staff of the year recipients.
Regional Winners
Atlantic – West Chester
Head Coach: Diane Lokey
Assistant Coach: Laura Altenburger
Record: 40-22 | 11-5 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East
Returned to the NCAA Championships for the second straight year as Atlantic Region champions… No. 7 overall seed… Won the PSAC East regular-season for the sixth straight season… As the four seed, won the East Regional No. 1 and then knocked off Shepherd, 2-1 in Super Regionals… Finished NCAA postseason play with a 6-3 mark, 1-2 at NCAA Championships… Diane Lokey was named PSAC East and Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Central – Augustana
Head Coach: Gretta Melsted
Assistant Coaches: Nat Wagner, Kelsey Thompson
Record: 61-11 | 27-3 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
2019 National Champions… No. 3 overall seed… Matched single-season record with 61 wins… 10-2 record in NCAA postseason… NSIC Tournament champions… Finished second in NSIC regular season and was No. 3 seed in the Central Region… Knocked off No. 2 Winona State in regionals and No. 1 Central Oklahoma in Super Regionals, both on the road, to reach the program’s fifth NCAA Division II Softball Championships.
East – LIU Post
Head Coach: Jamie Apicella
Assistant Coaches: Megan Butterworth, Lou Vanacore
Record: 51-13 | 22-2 East Coast Conference
Made fifth NCAA Division II Softball Championships appearance… No. 1 overall seed… Captured the East Region title taking two-of-three on road from No. 1 East Region seed Saint Anselm… Hanna Finkelstein hit a walk-off grand slam against New Haven, sending the Pioneers to Super Regionals… Program-record 51 wins… Head coach Jamie Apicella collected his 800thcareer win on April 5 versus American International… Captured ECC regular season title… Apicella named ECC Coach of the Year.
Midwest – Grand Valley State University
Head Coach: Dana Callihan
Assistant Coaches: Jen Rivera, Aaron Daldos, Jessi Ramos
Record: 51-10 | 24-6 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
National semifinalists in program’s fourth NCAA Division II Championships appearance… GLIAC regular and conference tournament champions… As No. 1 seed, swept through Midwest Regional and Super Regionals with 5-0 mark… 2-2 at national championships with wins over LIU Post and West Florida… Dana Callahan named GLIAC Coach of the Year for third straight season… 51 victories are second most in program history.
South – West Florida
Head Coach: Ashliegh McLean
Assistant Coach: Emma Johansen
Graduate Assistant: Becca Taylor
Student Assistant: Taylor Baynes
Record: 54-11 | 25-4 Gulf South Conference
As No. 2 overall seed, made second NCAA Division National Championships appearance in last four years… 54 wins are the most for the Argonauts since 2005… Gulf South regular season and tournament titles… No. 1 seed in South Region… Made a 16.5 game improvement from 2018 season… Set program record with .977 fielding percentage… Senior class reached the NCAA Tournament all four seasons and posted 173 wins… Ranked in the NFCA’s top-10 all season, including No. 1 for four weeks… Ashliegh McLean named GSC Coach of the Year.
South Central – Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Head Coach: Craig Nicholson
Assistant Coach: Justin Lewis
Graduate Assistant: Melina Sanchez
Student Assistant: Sarah Gilbert
Record: 52-10 | 24-6 Lone Star Conference
National runner-up in first-ever NCAA Division II National Championships appearance… Best campaign in program history both in terms of win total, win percentage and national finish… Opened NCAA postseason with nine straight victories, including game one of championship series… No. 1 seed in South Central Region and No. 4 overall at NCAA Championships… Lone Star regular season and tournament champions… Ranked in the NFCA Coaches poll since March 6 and reached as high as No. 3… Craig Nicholson named LSC Coach of the Year.
Southeast – Young Harris
Head Coach: Kayla Lucas
Assistant Coaches: Amanda Henderson, Hannah Reppert, Sara Alderman
Record: 44-20 | 15-5 Peach Belt Conference
National semifinalists… No. 8 overall seed… Guided YHC to first-ever NCAA Division II National Championships appearance… Captured Southeast Region championship as No. 5 seed, knocking off No. 1 North Georgia in regionals and No. 3 Lincoln Memorial in Super Regionals, both on the road… 7-3 postseason record, which included wins over LIU Post and West Chester during championships… Recorded a program-best 44 wins (NCAA era) and the highest national tournament finish.
West – UC San Diego
Head Coach: Patti Gerckens
Assistant Coaches: Jessica Millsap, Megan Griffith, Nicole Hennessey
Volunteer Assistant: Ray Noelte
Record: 37-17 | 24-9 California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA)
West Region champions as No. 2 seed… 5-2 record in postseason, sweeping through Regionals and Super Regionals… No. 6 overall seed… Knocked off No. 1 West Region seed Concordia Irvine on the road to reach NCAA Division II National Championships… Patti Gerckens named CCAA Coach of the Year.
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