LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- While a lot of the 2016 NFCA Convention program, held Dec. 7-10 at the New Orleans Marriott, is dedicated to education, another focal point is the recognition of coaching achievements. These accomplishments range from earning a 100th victory, growing the game, persevering and being inducted into the prestigious NFCA Hall of Fame.
Over the course of four days, coaches will be recognized for victory milestones, on the field success, off the field success, classroom excellence, community service and illustrious careers.
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Highlighting the convention is the 2016 Hall of Fame Banquet on Friday, Dec. 9. This year’s class consists of Sam Houston State head coach Bob Brock, Michigan State head coach Jacquie Joseph, University of St. Thomas (Minn.) skipper John Tschida and former Utah head coach Mona Stevens. Joseph and Stevens will be recognized as part of the Pioneer category, which recognizes a member that has contributed above and beyond to the sport of fastpitch softball through service, leadership, coaching and/or participation.
The NFCA has been inducting members into its Hall of Fame since 1991 with the current total standing at 68.
At the Victory Club Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 8, head and associate head coaches receive recognition for milestone victories obtained during the 2016 season. In 2016, honorees range from 100 to this year’s high mark of 1,500 wins. Be sure to attend so you can find out who earned monumental milestones, while enjoying lunch and conversation with your peers.
The Champions brunch on Saturday, Dec. 10 showcases coaching staffs that guided their teams to successful seasons, including national championships with national and regional awards. Along with entire staffs, individuals garner recognition in the Easton Assistant Coach of the Year category. A new addition in 2016 will allow members to mingle and eat brunch with former Olympians as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first Olympic Gold Medal as well as the return of softball to the Olympics in 2020.
In its third year, the Donna Newberry “Perseverance” award will be presented to Louisiana-Lafayette’s Michael Lotief. He will be recognized at the Softball Summit on Friday. The award, named for the longtime Muskingum College and 2008 NFCA Hall of Fame coach who died in November 2010 after amassing a 906-419-1 mark over 36 seasons, recognizes an NFCA member coach who has demonstrated extraordinary strength of will and character in the fight to overcome a physical, mental or social adversity that presented an additional challenge to the already demanding job of a coach.
Additionally, the Mary Nutter Scholarship and the new Diversity Convention Grant recipients are recognized, along with our top academic programs, sponsored by Easton and StrikeOut Cancer fundraisers at the “First Pitch” Opening Session on Dec. 7.
Michele Holaday (Rock Creek HS), Melissa Lee (Augsburg College) and Veronica “Roni” Miller (York College [Neb.]) were selected as this year’s Mary Nutter winners, while Mount San Antonio College’s head coach Ruby Rojas received the first-ever Diversity Grant.
The scholarship, named for the former Pittsburg State (Kan.) head coach and 1997 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee who founded National Sports Clinics, seeks to continue Nutter’s effort to provide softball coaches at all levels access to the best minds in the sport to help them become better coaches themselves. Created by the NFCA’s Diversity Committee, the grant is awarded to a minority member coach who shows a commitment to working with minorities and growing the game of fastpitch in their communities and has a need for financial assistance to attend the convention. Recipients of both awards receive funding to attend the Convention.