SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Over 100 coaches were honored for reaching various career milestones on Thursday, December 5th, at the annual NFCA/Easton Victory Club luncheon during the second day of the 2013 NFCA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

The NFCA/Easton Victory Club recognizes member head coaches for each 100 victories they achieve throughout their careers. Coaches being honored for achieving 1,000 or more wins received a beautifully engraved vase, those having reached plateaus stretching from 300-900 victories were awarded personalized plaques and certificates were presented to 100 or 200-win coaches in honor of their special achievements.

This year five coaches were lauded for either reaching or exceeding the 1,000-victory plateau. Ken Bailey of the SC Bandits hit the 1,200-win mark, Milton Simmons of Sports + Plus, the University of Tennessee’s Ralph Weekly and Central Michigan University’s Margo Jonker each picked up their 1,100th triumphs and George DiMatteo of Lewis University garnered his 1,000th victory.

Alongside the excitement of the exhibit hall starting up in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, next up on the program were talks by Michigan head coach Carol Hutchins and Hofstra head coach Bill Edwards and his staff. “Hutch” got things started in front of an overflow crowd by presenting a talk entitled “Tradition, Hard Work & Success: Developing a Winning Program for the Long Term.” Edwards and his staff took to the stage next with an informative presentation entitled “Choosing Your Optimum Team Defense.”

Later in the evening a very popular NFCA convention tradition, the mentoring session, continued in grand fashion. Under the guidance of NFCA Hall of Famer Sue Enquist, over 100 experienced coaches volunteered to give advice and life lessons to over 600 head and assistant coaches.

A pair of hospitality events sponsored by Diamond Sports wrapped up the NFCA Convention’s second day, allowing coaches the opportunity to fellowship together. For those looking for a little wilder time, the “Party Zone” proved the choice, while those looking for a quieter environment spent their time at the “Social Lounge.”

Friday at the NFCA Convention starts off bright and early with both the Schutt Sports and Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ breakfasts at 7 a.m. The remainder of the event’s third day is highlighted by the annual Softball Summit, where coaches across all divisions join together to debate issues that affect the sport of softball, and numerous speakers including Illinois-Chicago assistant coach Eileen Canney Linnehan, NCAA Rules Secretary Dee Abrahamson, Florida head coach Tim Walton and Alabama-Birmingham head coach Marla Townsend.

Make sure to send along your unique or funny tweets during the NFCA Convention (follow us at @NFCAorg) for a chance to win a free registration to the 2014 NFCA Convention in Las Vegas, Nev. To enter your tweet in the contest you must add the official hashtag of this year’s event: #NFCATX

2013 EASTON VICTORY CLUB HONOREES

100 Wins

William Baber, California Baptist University

Christy Connoyer, Saint Louis University

Shawn Hendrickson, Finlandia University

Roger Kincaid, Georgia State University

Ken Prorok, Dakota State University

Kelly Shannon, Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania

Jamie Trachsel, North Dakota State University

Ken Wade, KC Premier

Brad Wallach, East Central College

200 Wins

Glen Crawford, Reinhardt College

Ken Dischler, Chequamegon High School (Wis.)

Angela Froboese, Southwestern University (Texas)

Heather Hill, Union University (Tenn.)

Kevin Jannusch, Ashford University

Jessica Johnson, Brandeis University

Wesley Landrum, Frostburg State University

Keri O’Meara, Wellesley College

Charles Pikas, Pacheco High School (Calif.)

Scott Reese, Ancilla College

Chad Slyter, Valley City State University

Pete Soliz, Texas Force Fastpitch

Becky Stenning Pearl, Judson University

300 Wins

Rick Anderson, Oregon Silver Bullets

Nick Baumert, College of Southern Idaho

Richie Bruister, Texas A&M University-Commerce

John Conway, Saint Leo University

Brian Dewey, Mercyhurst North East

Ted Evans, Armstrong Atlantic State University

Betsy Hipple, Claremont McKenna-Mudd-Scripps Colleges

Wendy Hogue, William Carey University

Diane Lokey, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Scott Nielson, St. Amant High School (La.)

Diana Pepin, Eastern Connecticut State University

Scott Peterson, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Jim Piazza, Keystone High School (Ohio)

Thomas Thornton, Georgetown College

Kevin Werth, Piedra Vista High School (N.M.)

Joe Yegge, Kirkwood Community College

400 Wins

Craig Brooks, Lamar Community College

Donley Canary, University of Tennessee at Martin

Sean Cotter, University of Massachusetts-Lowell

Michelle Daddona, Riverside Community College

Amy Daigle, West Monroe High School (La.)

Melissa Frost, University of Indianapolis

Kristina Kistler, Augustana College (Ill.)

Donna Koczajowski, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Lori Mayhew, Western New England College

Darren Mueller, North Dakota State University

Mike Reed, University of Texas at Tyler

Dawn Simmons, Lynchburg College

Jen Bagley Trotter, Missouri Western State University

Darren White, Saddle Brook High School (N.J.)

500 Wins

Kerri Blaylock, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale

Laneigh Clark, Pearland High School (Texas)

Lisa Costello, Towson University

Pam Fink, Oklahoma Baptist University

Jessica Jones-Sitzmann, Morningside College

David Kuhn, University of Central Arkansas

Elizabeth Luckie, Sacred Heart University

Mike McKenzie, Aurora University

Gay McNutt, Stephen F. Austin University

Mark Tucker, Texas Bombers Gold HTX

Al White, Madonna University

Jarred White, Topeka Stingers

600 Wins

Kevin Blaskowski, West Texas A&M University

Alvy Early, University of Arkansas, Monticello

Shena Hollar, Lenoir-Rhyne University

Debbie Huntze-Rooney, San Jose City College

Terri Knecht, Yavapai College

Margie Knight, Salisbury University

Kathy Leitke, Western Michigan University

Myra Minuskin, St. Xavier University

Mark Schusterman, Gulliver Preparatory School (Fla.)

Mary Jo Truesdale, Sheldon High School (Calif.)

Veronica Wiggins, Florida A&M University

Kim Wilson, Rowan University

700 Wins

Dale Atkinson, Indian River State College

Carol Bruggeman, University of Louisville

Jayne Clem, Wallace State CC-Hanceville

Ron Faubion, Southeastern Oklahoma State University

Mary-Ellen Hall, Houston Baptist University

Jacquie Joseph, Michigan State University

Jim Overturf, Indian Hills Community College

Deb Pallozzi, Ithaca College

Adam Renzi, NC Challengers

John Rittman, Stanford University

Mike Smith, McNeese State University

John Tschida, University of St. Thomas (Minn.)

800 Wins

Kent Chambers, Bob Jones High School (Ala.)

Sheilah Gulas, Ashland University

Rosemary Holloway-Hill, University of Louisiana at Monroe

Tim Kiernan, Sacramento City College

Judy Lawes, Kutztown University

Pat Murphy, University of Alabama

Mike Rappl, Canisius College

Rhonda Revelle, University of Nebraska

Ritchie Richardson, Olivet Nazarene University

Steve Warner, West Virginia Wesleyan College

Karen Weekly, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

900 Wins

Robert Coolen, University of Hawaii, Manoa

Clint Myers, Auburn University

Scott Smith, Texas Bombers

1000 Wins

George DiMatteo, Lewis University

1100 Wins

Margo Jonker, Central Michigan University

Milton Simmons, Sports + Plus

Ralph Weekly, University of Tennessee at Knoxville

1200 Wins

Ken Bailey, SC Bandits