LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six NAIA programs were selected by their peers as the 2025 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Tuesday.
Representing each of the NAIA’s six NAIA regions, these respective coaching staffs – Louisiana State University of Alexandria (Region I), Southeastern University (Region II), Southern Oregon University (Region III), Eastern Oregon University (Region IV), Grand View University (Region V) and University of the Cumberlands (Region VI) - are now eligible for the ATEC/NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 11.
All six programs earned postseason berths into the NAIA Opening Round with Southern Oregon, Eastern Oregon, Grand View and Cumberlands advancing to the 44th NAIA Softball World Series at the South Commons Complex in Columbus, Ga.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by member head coaches.
Regional Winners (Records reflect games played through May 26)
Region I – LSU Alexandria
Head Coach: Trent Partridge
Assistant Coach: Brannin Hagan
Volunteer Assistant: Richard Partridge
Earned the top seed in the Fayette, Mo. Opening Round (Central Methodist) … Finished regular season as No. 8-ranked team in NAIA Coaches’ Poll …. Registered a second-place finish in the Red River Athletic Conference regular-season with a 26-2 mark and was also tournament runner-up … 1-2 in the NAIA Opening Round … Reached the 40-win mark and recorded its most wins (47) since 2017 … Trent Partridge was named RRAC Coach of the Year and earned his 100th career win on April 19 against Louisiana Christian becoming the fastest LSUA softball coach to reach the milestone (145 games).
Region II – Southeastern
Head Coach: Kayla Watkins
Assistant Coach: Ashley Prange
Graduate Assistant: Jordan Moore
Earned the No. 2 seed in the Klamath Falls, Ore. Opening Round (Oregon Tech) and posted a 2-2 record… Finished regular season as No. 15-ranked team NAIA Coaches’ Poll … The Fire’s 42 wins (42-11) are the most since 2022 and the fourth-highest total in program history … Runner up in the Sun Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed … Head coach Kayla Watkins earned her 200th career victory on March 3 against Grand View.
Region III – Southern Oregon
Head Coach: Jessica Pistole
Assistant Coaches: Cheyenne Bricker, Harlee Crown, Bill Rowe, Hannah Clavelle
Assistant Coach of Operations: Kim Budd
Advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series with a sweep as a host of the Ashland, Ore. Opening Round … It is the Raiders’ seventh trip in the last eight years … Entered the World Series as the No. 3 overall seed … After dropping its opener, SOU has won three elimination games at the World Series heading into May 27 … Finished regular season as No. 4-ranked team NAIA Coaches’ Poll …Raiders won a share of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC), their first regular-season title since 2021 … Own a 51-9 record.
Region IV – Eastern Oregon
Head Coach: Nicole Christian
Assistant Coaches: Theresa Manley, Woody Wright
Volunteer Assistants: Bob Christian, Maddy Thomas
Advanced to the NAIA Softball World Series for the first time since 2001 after sweeping the San Antonio, Texas Opening Round … It included two victories over the host and defending champion Our Lady of the Lake University, the latter victory was highlighted by a three-run walk-off homer in the eighth by Hope Burke sending EOU to Columbus, Ga. … As the No. 7 seed, EOU is one of two remaining undefeated teams left in the World Series field (as of May 26) … Finished regular season as No. 14-ranked team NAIA Coaches’ Poll … Captured second straight CCC Tournament title with a 4-0 run, which included victories over No. 2 Oregon Tech and No. 4 Southern Oregon … Own a 38-9 record.
Region V – Grand View
Head Coach: Lou A. Yacinich
Assistant Coacsh: Destiny Willer, Todd Merical, Jessica Grochala
Pitching Coach: Claudia Farrell
Graduate Assistant: Allyx Lee
Earned a trip to the NAIA Softball World Series after winning the Chickasha, Okla. Opening Round with a 3-1 record, posting two wins over host and No. 1 seed University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma … As the No. 8 seed, won its opener and followed with an upset of the No. 1 overall seed Cumberlands and finished with a 2-2 record … Posted a 42-16 overall record … Finished regular season as No. 23-ranked team NAIA Coaches’ Poll … Won their first Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament crown since 2018 with an undefeated 4-0 mark after finishing second in the regular season.
Region VI - Cumberlands
Head Coach: Bailey Dillender
Head Assistant Coach: Alyssa Richards
Assistant Coach: Mia Aldridge
Earned third consecutive berth to NAIA Softball World Series and is being recognized with the coaching staff honor for the third straight year … Finished regular season as No. 3-ranked team NAIA Coaches’ Poll … Second team in Mid-South Conference history to go undefeated during the regular season (18-0) … Hosted and swept through Williamsburg Opening Round with three wins … Went 0-2 at NAIA Softball World Series as No. 1 overall seed … Dillender was named MSC Coach of the Year … Ended the season with a 40-9 mark.
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 over 7,000 coaches today!
