LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Back-to-back state champion Lake Creek High School (Texas) was voted by its peers as the 2022-23 ATEC/NFCA High School National Coaching Staff of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon. It marked the second straight honor for head coach Michelle Rochinski and her staff.
Under the guidance of Rochinski, alongside assistants Shauna Hazlewood and Candyce Carter, Lake Creek posted a 44-1 record in 2023 and won its second consecutive Texas Class 5A state title, concluding with 8-0 and 9-0 wins in the semifinal and title games. The Lions finished No. 1 in the final 2023 USA Today Sports/NFCA High School Super 25, their second straight year as the NFCA’s No. 1 team in the spring.
Rochinski, who stepped down after six years at Lake Creek, led the Lions to an 85-1 mark the last two years and an 138-4 record over the past four seasons, while holding the top spot in the NFCA’s poll since March 17, 2022. During the two-year run, LCHS set a state record with an 82-game winning streak. As a high school head coach the past 23 years, Rochinski compiled a 541-171 record, leading her squads to the playoffs every year, winning nine district titles, and making three state tournament appearances.
Representing each of the NFCA’s 10 High School regions, Lake Creek (Region VI), along with Blue Springs South (Mo.), Piedmont (Okla.), Bingham High School (Utah), Northland Preparatory Academy (Ariz.), Antioch High School (Ill.), Orange Beach High School (Ala.), Austintown Fitch High School (Ohio), South Western High School (Pa.) and Cushing Academy (Mass.) represent the Regions I through X, respectively.
Rochinski, Hazlewood and Carter will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 9 at the 2023 NFCA Convention in Louisville.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded awards program, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from podcasts to and extensive drills database, to in-person events and National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of 6,500 coaches today!
