LOUISVILLE, Ky. – McLennan Community College, Parkland College and Patrick & Henry Community College were recognized by their peers as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA NJCAA National Coaching Staffs of the Year for Divisions I, II & III.
Under the direction of head coach Chris Berry, along with assistants Jessica Smith and Rhein Carmichael, McLennan CC was the No. 1 team in NJCAA DI all season and finished as national runners-up. The Highlanders started 44-0 and went on to collect a Region V crown and an automatic bid to the DI World Series. As the tournament’s top overall seed, McLennan posted a 4-2 record at the World Series and finished 2024 with a 61-4 mark, the first program to reach 60 wins in a season. The Highlanders boasted one of the top offenses in the country, ranking first in runs scored (654), base hits (740), triples (61), RBI (582), total bases (1,263) and extra-base hits (290) and second in batting average (.430), on-base percentage (.511) and slugging percentage (.735). They also are ranked second in shutouts (24), third in ERA (1.99) and fifth in opponent’s batting average (.216) and WHIP (1.09).
Under the direction of co-head coaches Kristi and Dan Paulson, along with 2021 Easton/NFCA NJCAA DII Assistant Coach of the Year Stacey Birdsong, the Rattlers won 55 of their final 57 games heading into the NJCAA DII Softball World Series where they finished with a 1-2 showing as the tournament’s No. 1 overall seed. Parkland finished the season 58-6 (19-0 at home) and 23-1 in the Mid-West Athletic Conference, winning both the Region 24 and Central District championships. The Rattlers were one of the top pitching staffs in Division II, posting the top ERA (1.00), WHIP (0.86), batting average against (.161) and shutouts (28), and the second in strikeouts (571) and strikeouts per seven innings (10.18).
Head coach Robbi Campbell and assistant coach Brandi Woods guided Patrick & Henry Community College to the program’s first-ever NJCAA DIII national title and the first for the Patriots’ athletic department. Making its first trip to the NJCAA DIII World Series, P&HCC went 3-0 including a triumph over defending champion and top seed North Dakota SCS to reach the title game. In a rematch of the semifinals, the Patriots dropped the first game to the Wildcats, but rebounded with a thrilling 6-4, 10-inning win to capture the Division III crown. P&HCC finished the season with a 34-25 record and captured Region 10 and Appalachian District championships, both firsts in program history.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by active member head coaches.
All three coaching staffs will be recognized at the NFCA Convention’s Awards Brunch on Dec. 7 in Dallas, Texas.
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