LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The eight programs that reached the NCAA Division II National Championship were selected by their peers as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Friday.
Representing each of the NFCA’s eight Division II regions, these respective coaching staffs – University of Charleston (Atlantic), Augustana University (Central), Wilmington University (East), University of Indianapolis (Midwest), Auburn University at Montgomery (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central), Lenoir-Rhyne University (Southeast) and Western Washington University (West) - are now eligible for the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 6.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by member head coaches.
Regional Winners (Records through Thursday, May 23)
Atlantic – Charleston
Head Coach: Michelle Frew
Assistant Coaches: Dr. Steve Frew, Amy Hills
Student Assistants: Jackson Meadows, Jade Espinosa
Guided Charleston to its first-ever National Championship appearance and was the No. 5 overall seed … As the region’s No. 3 seed, posted a 4-1 record in the Atlantic 2 Regional and then knocked off Kutztown in a three-game Super Regional… Captured the Mountain East Conference regular-season and tournament titles … Set a program record with 51 wins (51-8) and is just the second team to reach the 50-win mark (2016) … Ranked No. 9 in final NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll of the regular season.
Central – Augustana
Head Coach: Gretta Melsted
Assistant Coach: Kelsey Thompson
Volunteer Assistants: Maria Munkvold, Shelbie Day
Captured the Central Region title with a perfect run on the road through the Central Regional I and Super Regionals as the No. 4 seed … Posted a 3-0 record in the regional, which included two wins over host and No. 1 seed Pittsburg State … Followed with a sweep of No. 2 Rogers State in Super Regionals … Reached the 50-win mark (50-15) for the sixth time under Melsted … Entered the National Championship on a 32-game win streak … Won both the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season and tournament crowns.
East – Wilmington
Head Coach: Mike Shehorn
Assistant Coaches: James Brittingham, Jerry Grasso, Tom Freeland
Collecting this honor for the second straight season … Steered the Wildcats their second straight National Championship appearance and first-ever win in the final eight… Entered the National Championship at the No. 3 overall seed … 5-0 during their run to an East Region title … Ended the regular season ranked 17th in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll … Posted program-record 46 victories (46-16), breaking last year’s record … Captured Central Atlantic Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament crowns for second straight season.
Midwest – Indianapolis
Head Coach: Melissa Frost
Assistant Coach: Ben Ferrell
Graduate Assistants: Leah Buck, Brooke Ebersole
National semifinalists … Second straight staff honor for the UIndy … Registered a 7-3 postseason mark, including 5-1 on their way to a Midwest Region title … Won a Great Lakes Valley regular-season title with a 25-1 league record … Earned the No. 1 overall seed in the Midwest Region for the second straight season … Ended the regular season ranked No. 2 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, spent one week at No. 1 … First team in program history to reach 60-win mark (60-7) and only team in NCAA softball with 60 victories.
South – Auburn Montgomery
Head Coach: Scottie Wilkes
Assistant Coach: Abby Krueger
Graduate Assistant: Emilie Brown
Top seed in the NCAA South Region for the second straight season and made first National Championship appearance with Wilkes at the helm and second overall (assistant coach) … No. 1 overall seed at DII World Series … Notched a 7-3 record in postseason, including a 6-1 mark during its run to a South Region crown … Gulf South Conference Tournament champions after an undefeated 4-0 run … Ranked 15th in the final NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll of the regular season.
South Central – UT Tyler
Head Coach: Mike Reed
Associate Head Coach: Whitney Wyly
Assistant Coaches: Shannon Klaus, Anthony Springer
Manager: Shea O’Leary
Fourth consecutive year earning this honor … Third straight trip to the NCAA DII National Championship (No. 2 overall seed) … 3-0 start at the DII World Series and is making their first Championship Series appearance … 8-0 in 2024 NCAA postseason … Captured fourth straight Lone Star Conference regular-season title … Enters Championship Series with a 56-8 record … Ranked in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll’s top eight all season and was third at the end of the regular season.
Southeast – Lenoir-Rhyne
Head Coach: Shena Holler
Assistant Coach: Emily Kenley
National semifinalist … Steered the Bears to their first-ever Southeast Region title and NCAA Division II National Championship appearance … As the No. 8 seed, went 2-2 against the top four seeds at the DII World Series and 7-4 overall in the postseason … Upset No. 1 seed Auburn Montgomery in the tournament opener … En route the Southeast Region title, the Bears registered two road wins each over the Southeast’s No. 1 and 2 overall seeds, Wingate and North Georgia … 52 wins tied for the second highest total in program history … Ranked nationally since Feb. 20 and reached as high as No. 18 during the regular season.
West – Western Washington
Head Coach: Sheryl Gilmore
Assistant Coaches: Shearyna Labasan, Leah Francis
Graduate Assistant: Forrest Longanecker
Guided the Vikings (No. 6 seed) to the Championship Series in their first-ever NCAA DII National Championship appearance … Knocked off No. 3 Wilmington in their first-ever World Series game … Won three straight elimination games – one against No. 1 AUM and back-to-back versus No. 5 Indianapolis … 7-0 in elimination games this NCAA postseason … Rallied from a 6-0 deficit against Cal State Dominguez Hills to win game three of the West Super Regional and advance to the National Championship … Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champions … Smashed single-season victory record with 52 (no program had reached 40 wins) … Nationally ranked all season, entered postseason No. 13.
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