LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ten NCAA Division III programs were selected by their peers as the 2026 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Wednesday.
Representing each of the NFCA’s 10 Division III regions, these respective coaching staffs – Colby (Region I), UMass Dartmouth (Region II), Rochester (Region III), Stockton (Region IV), Muhlenberg (Region V), Virginia Wesleyan (Region VI), Mount Union (Region VII), WashU (Region VIII), Simpson (Region IX) and Texas Lutheran (Region X) – are now eligible for the ATEC/NFCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 12.
Three of this year’s regional recipients — Mount Union, Simpson and Virginia Wesleyan — are playing in the eight-team NCAA Division III World Series at James I. Moyer Park in Salem, Va.
This is the fourth time that Rochester, Texas Lutheran and Virginia Wesleyan have been recognized regionally in the past six years. All of the Marlins’ and Bulldogs’ honors have been under the direction of Brandon Elliott and Wade Wilson, respectively, but it is the first time being recognized as a head coach for Rochester’s Abby Hurley-Martin, who was an assistant on NFCA Hall of Famer Julie Lenhart’s SUNY Cortland staff when the Red Dragons were the Northeast Region recipient in 2013.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by member head coaches.
Region I – Colby College
Head Coach: Terren Allen
Assistant Head Coach: Dorothy O’Donnell
Went 30-14 … Most wins in program history … First NCAA tournament appearance in school history … Won NCAA Bangor (Maine) Regional championship … Lost to host Rowan in NCAA Glassboro (N.J.) Super Regional.
Region II – UMass Dartmouth
Head Coach: Rachael Powers
Assistant Coaches: Kayla Kirby, Mike Terceira and Alex Soqui
Went 33-13 … Won Little East Conference tournament championship … Beat host Worcester Polytechnic to capture NCAA Worcester (Mass.) Regional crown … Lost to host Mount Union in NCAA Alliance (Ohio) Super Regional … Won eight of last 10 games.
Region III – University of Rochester
Head Coach: Abby Hurley-Martin
Assistant Coach: Cass Platt
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Bradley Shannon, Emily Doherty and Rosella Gomez
Went 36-10 … Won Liberty League tournament title … Lost to host Trine in NCAA Angola (Ind.) Regional … Junior utility player Riley Laygo named NFCA Division III National Player of the Year and first-team All-American … Established single-season program marks for batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, runs, hits, homers, RBI, total bases and walks … Second-most wins in school history … No. 24-ranked team in NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Region IV – Stockton University
Head Coach: Mavreen Hering
Assistant Coaches: Abby Mace, Michelle Neveling, Alexis Bermudez and Joe Costantini
Went 30-9 … Most victories in a decade … Won first New Jersey Athletic Conference regular-season championship … Earned first NCAA tournament berth and first NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll ranking (currently 17th) … Lost in NCAA Worcester (Mass.) Regional … Third baseman Alexa Panagopoylos earned second-team NFCA All-America status, just the second Osprey to earn that award.
Region V – Muhlenberg College
Head Coach: Sarah Leavenworth
Assistant Coaches: Maddisen Bieber, Jean Buskirk, Lee Maulorico
Went 36-13 … Program record for wins … Won NCAA Medford (Mass.) Regional title … Lost to reigning national champion and host Trine in NCAA Angola (Ind.) Super Regional on a two-run walk-off homer in 10th inning … Advanced farther than any other team in program history.
Region VI – Virginia Wesleyan University
Head Coach: Brandon Elliott
Assistant Coaches: Millie Thompson, Jim Quinn, Chris Smith and Jenna Wilson
Graduate Intern: Mackenzie Myers
Compiled 50-1 record so far this season … Won ODAC tournament title for 17th time (and third straight) … Won NCAA Regional and Super Regional titles … Currently competing at NCAA World Series … Senior Hannah Hearl voted Portolite/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Year … Placed nation-best six players on NFCA All-America team … Top-ranked team in NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Region VII – University of Mount Union
Head Coach: Meghan Simons
Assistant Coaches: Jillia Cook, Erika Warren and Zoey Devore
Compiled 35-7 record so far this season … Won NCAA Regional and Super Regional titles … Currently competing at first NCAA World Series in program history … Pitcher Kendyll Cahill voted second-team All-American … Ranked 12th in NFCA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Region VIII – Washington University in St. Louis
Head Coach: Casey Cromwell
Assistant Coaches: Melissa Gentile, Natasha Ramakrishnan, Roni Knittig and Natalia Pilpil
Went 30-7-1 … Captured University Athletic Association tournament championship … Lost in NCAA St. Louis (Mo.) Regional final … Pitcher Maria Brooks earned NFCA All-America honor.
Region IX – Simpson College
Head Coach: Brent Mathias
Associate Head Coach: Kelsey Aikey
Assistant Coaches: Kyle Owens, Addy Pender, Ron Reusche, Carlye Satterwhite
Student Assistant: Ellee Mortensen
Compiled 39-6 record so far this season … Most wins since 2000 season … Won first American Rivers Conference tournament title in team history … Won NCAA Regional and Super Regional crowns … Making first trip to NCAA World Series since winning its second of two titles in three years in 1999 … Outfielder Ashlyn Steen named NFCA All-American this season for third time in career.
Region X – Texas Lutheran University
Head Coach: Wade Wilson
Assistant Coaches: Kyla Lockley, Ed Zarzabal, James Fuqua and Scott Smith
Volunteer Assistant Coach: Jerry Miller
Went 42-6 … Won 10th Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament title and 22nd conference crown overall … Lost in NCAA Seguin (Texas) Super Regional … Topped 40 wins for sixth time … Set NCAA Division III record for stolen bases in a season (256) … Three-time NFCA All-American Caelee Clark set NCAA all-divisions career steal mark (306) and won third New Balance/NFCA Golden Shoe honor in four seasons … Placed three players overall on NFCA All-America squad.
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