LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Eight programs were honored by their peers as 2023-24 ATEC/NFCA High School Spring Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Friday afternoon.
Competing in the Spring of 2024, Delta High School (Alaska), Providence High School (Calif.), Antioch High School (Ill.), Calvary Baptist Academy (La.), Silverdale Baptist Academy (Tenn.), Austintown Fitch High School (Ohio), Mount Saint Dominic Academy (N.J.) and Mardela High School (Md.) represent the Regions III through X, respectively.
These programs, along with Summer/Fall recipients Washington High School (Mo.) (Region I) and Guthrie High School (Okla.) (Region II), are now eligible for the NFCA High School National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on August 20, 2024.
To be eligible, the program’s head coach must be a member and nominated. Winners were voted by member head coaches in each of their respective regions.
Regional Winners
Region III – Delta High School (Alaska)
Head Coach: Richard Lester
Assistant Coach: Amanda Bunselmeier
Posted a 30-6 record and reached the ASAA Division II state championship tournament … Went 3-2 at the state tournament … Ten players earned 4.0 GPA with five earning NFCA All-Region and two NFCA All-America honors.
Region IV – Providence High School (Calif.)
Head Coach: Manuel Travieso
Assistant Coach: Patricia Workman
Playing a tough schedule, Providence finished 23-4 overall and 12-0 in League and held the No. 1 spot in the CIF division 5 for several weeks … Coach Travieso and Workman showed exception dedication and commitment to their players and community, which including guiding six seniors to secure commitment to prestigious academic universities (non-DI) … Organized free camps and emphasized a commitment to community engagement.
Region V – Antioch High School (Ill.)
Head Coach: Anthony Rocco
Assistant Coaches: Hilary O’Donnell, Alex Caccamo, Tammy Johnson, Makaila House
Nabbed second consecutive coaching staff of the year accolade … Class 3A state runner-up for second straight season … Registered a 29-6 mark and posted 19- and 15-game winning streaks in 2023 … Ranked ninth for a few weeks in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll … Earned notable wins over St. Charles North, Mundelein, Lincoln-Way East, Hononegah, Warren, Sycamore, and Richmond Burton.
Region VI – Calvary Baptist Academy (La.)
Head Coach: Tiffany Wood
Assistant Coaches: Greg Frazier, Harold Johnson, Jessica Gann
Won its fourth straight LHSAA Division III state crown … Registered a 35-2 record … Finished second in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll and 10th in the MaxPreps rankings to go along with a No. 1 state ranking.
Region VII – Silverdale Baptist Academy (Tenn.)
Head Coach: Jake Freelend
Assistant Coaches: Tim Thompson, Sloan Mulligan
Back-to-back TSSAA Division II Class A state champions … Posted a 50-3 overall record and finished 15th in final MaxPreps rankings and No. 1 overall in Tennessee … Outscored the opposition 25-3 in the state tournament and 70-5 during the entire postseason … Captured regional and district titles … Finished the season outscoring their opponents 396-42, launched 66 home runs and posted a 0.69 ERA.
Region VIII – Austintown Fitch High School (Ohio)
Head Coach: Steven Ward
Assistant Coaches: Bob Jones, Becki Spalding, Nicole Fiddler, Jerry Bruff, Rich Raymer
Captured second straight coaching staff of the year honor … Won second consecutive Division I state title despite replacing four starters and five seniors from the 2023 team … Posted a 23-1 record and is 45-1 the past two years … Ended the season ranked No. 1 in Ohio, No. 6 nationally in the USA TODAY SPORTS/NFCA High School Super 25 poll and 14th nationally on MaxPreps … Recorded two wins over top-10 nationally-ranked programs … .
Region IX – Mount Saint Dominic Academy (N.J.)
Head Coach: Robert Stern
Assistant Coaches: Ashley DeYoung, Angelo Delvecchio
Starting six freshmen, the Lions were the state Parochial A runner-up … Posted a 30-2 record and was ranked in the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 poll for nine weeks, finishing the season ranked 17th nationally … Coach Stern is a big advocate for his student-athletes as well as those across the tri-state area … He hosts softball events through the season bringing in high-powered teams to compete, while also hosting a senior all-star game (Super 36).
Region X – Mardela High School (Md.)
Head Coach: Kory Shiles
Assistant Coaches: Michele Jones, John Jones, Alexa Jones, Kenny Robinson, Alicia Campbell, Kate Satterlee, Brooke Keene, Bill Duck, Christina Heath
Posted a school record 24 wins and was a state semifinalist … Captured the Bayside Conference title for the second straight year and the 1A East Region championship for the third straight year … Only loss of the season was a 1-0 defeat in the state semifinal against eventual state champion Allegany … Coach Shiles earned his 300th career win in 2024 and was also tabbed Bayside South Coach of the Year for the 11th time.
The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Coaching Staff of the Year awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
