LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Six programs were selected by their peers as 2018 NAIA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, announced the Association on Thursday morning.
Representing each of the NFCA’s sixs NAIA region, these respective coaching staffs- Faulkner University (I), University of Mobile (II), Oklahoma Wesleyan University (III), University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (IV), Aquinas College (V), Indiana Wesleyan University (VI) – are now eligible for the NFCA’s National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced following the NAIA World Series.
Faulkner, Mobile, Science and Arts and Indiana Wesleyan reached the NAIA World Series, which kicks off on May 25 in Clermont, Fla.
Regional winners this season were:
Region I – Faulkner University
Head Coach: Hal Wynn
Assistant Coaches: Gary Gregory
Student Assistants: Katie Goodson, Hayden Strickland
Record: 48-12, 19-7 Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC)
Guided Faulkner to its first-ever NAIA opening round and World Series appearance… Defeated top seed and No. 4 Campbellsville in back-to-back contest to claim the Bracket No. 2 of the NAIA National Championship opening round… Program-record 48 wins… Ranked No. 17 in final NAIA regular season poll… Shelby Brown was named the SSAC Gold Glove Award recipient… Earned SSAC Sportsmanship award… Garnered nine SSAC all-conference selections
Region II – University of Mobile
Head Coach: Alison Sellers-Cook
Assistant Coaches: Steve Alcorn, Kirstyn Joiner
Record: 46-13, 21-6 SSAC
In first season with Mobile, guided the Rams to the NAIA World Series… Hosted and swept through Gulf Shores Opening Round Bracket, defeating Brenau twice and No. 12 Thomas… Ranked No. 9 in final NAIA regular season poll… SSAC Tournament runner-up… Sellers-Cook was named SSAC Coach of the Year… Maddie Burchel and Karley Sanders garnered SSAC Newcomer and Pitcher of the Year honors… Nine Rams earned all-conference recognition.
Region III – Oklahoma Wesleyan
Head Coach: Caty Reeves
Assistant Coaches: Juliaclare Plezbert, Gabby Bogear
Record: 29-21, 16-6 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC)
Earned a berth into the NAIA Opening Round… Eight Lady Eagles selected to KCAC All-Conference teams…. Ashley Stone named KCAC Player of the Year… Finished second in the KCAC regular season.
Region IV – Science and Arts (Okla.)
Head Coach: Jadyn Wallis
Assistant Coach: Kayla Adams
Record: 53-5, 28-4 Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC)
Guided program to first-ever NAIA World Series appearance and will be the No. 4 overall seed… Owns No. 5 ranking in final NAIA regular season poll… Wallis named SAC Coach of the Year… Swept through the Dodge City, Kan. opening round as the region’s top seed… SAC tournament runner-up… Finished second in SAC regular season… Nine players garner all-conference honors… Chloe Clifton, Emily Cerny, Darci Chester were named SAC Player, Pitcher and Newcomer of the Year.
Region V – Aquinas
Head Coach: Brad Koch
Assistant Coaches: Jim Elliott, Jacki Plough, Mel Shepard, Robert Dunham, Todd Johnston
Record: 40-16, 15-5 Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHIC)
Earned a share of the WHAC regular season title, its first since 2007… 40 victories are the third most in a single season… Koch was named WHAC Coach of the Year… Briana Mairose was selected league player and newcomer of the year… Eight players earned all-conference recognition.
Region VI – Indiana Wesleyan
Head Coach: Steve Babinski
Assistants: Evelyn Waymore, Kevin Juber, Lindsey Krippel
Graduate Assistant: Alyssa Morris
Record: 57-10, 30-6 Crossroads
Guided Indiana Wesleyan to its second consecutive NAIA World Series and will be the No. 5 seed… Won the Hattiesburg Bracket as the No. 1 seed, going 3-1 during the opening round … Ranked seventh in final NAIA regular season poll… First 50-win season in program history… Won the Crossroads League tournament, knocking off No. 2 nationally ranked Marian (Ind.) twice in the title game.