National Championships participants garner 2017 NFCA Division II Regional Coaching Staff of the Year Recognition
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The eight programs that reached the 2017 Division II National Championships were selected by their peers as the NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, announced the Association on Monday afternoon.
Representing each of the NFCA’s eight Division II regions, these respective coaching staffs – West Virginia Wesleyan College (Atlantic), Minnesota State University, Mankato (Central), Molloy College (East), University of Southern Indiana (Midwest), University of West Florida (South), Angelo State University (South Central), Armstrong State University (Southeast) and Humboldt State University (West)- are now eligible for the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award.
The list includes national champions, Minnesota State, national runner-up Angelo State and repeat winners- Humboldt State and Armstrong State.
The national award will be announced on June 20.
Regional Winners
Atlantic – West Virginia Wesleyan College
Head Coach: Steve Warner
Assistant Coaches: Bob Allen, Marissa Leslie, Cortney Radke
Record: 51-10 | 26-4 Mountain East
Made first NCAA Championships appearance and advanced to the semifinals… Mountain East Conference regular season and tournament champions… Head coach Steve Warner was named MEC Coach of the Year… The Bobcats put in a 2-2 showing at the championships, which included wins over Molloy and West Florida… 7-2 overall posteason record, including 3-0 in the Atlantic Regional No. 1… The victory over West Florida was Warner’s 1,000th of his career.
Central – Minnesota State
Head Coach: Lori Meyer
Assistant Coach: Kristle Wolcott
Graduate Assistant: Sammie Hildreth
Record: 64-7 | 28-2 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference
2017 National Champions, the first title in program history and the first at Minnesota State since 2008-09… Swept through the Central Regional No. 2 and went 2-1 in the Super Regionals at No. 1 seed Harding University… Wrapped up the season with a 5-0 undefeated run at the national championships in Salem, Va., which included an identical 5-1 victories over national No. 1 seed Angelo State in the Championship Series… Recorded a program-record 64 wins…Meyer was named NSIC Coach of the Year… Coley Ries was named Schutt Sports/NFCA National Player of the Year.
East – Molloy College
Head Coach: Susan Cassidy-Lyke
Assistant Coach: Kelley Jansen
Record: 37-18 | 18-6 East Coast Conference
Reached the program’s third National Championships after knocking off Adelphi on the road in the Super Regionals… Earned the East’s No. 2 regional ranking… Finished postseason with a 5-2 mark… Hosted and won the East Regional No. 2 sweeping NYIT, Caldwell and Merrimack… Ended the regular season on a 13-game winning streak.
Midwest – University of Southern Indiana
Head Coach: Sue Kunkle
Assistant Coach: MacKenzi Dorsam
Graduate Assistant: Cate Simon
Volunteer Assistant: Brooke Harmening
Record: 46-14 | 19-7 Great Lakes Valley Conference
Reached the program’s first National Championships… The Screaming Eagles posted a 5-2 mark in postseason… Swept through Midwest Regional No. 2 and Super Regionals… USI knocked off Grand Valley State and Saginaw Valley State twice in regionals before knocking off Wayne State in the supers… Claimed the GLVC regular season championship and tournament’s No. 1 seed… Kunkle was named GLVC Coach of the Year.
South – University of West Florida
Head Coach: Melissa Paul
Assistant Coach: Ashliegh McLean
Record: 46-15 | 23-9 Gulf South Conference
Reached the NCAA National Championships for the third time in program history and posted a 1-2 mark in Salem, Va… Swept Lee in the Super Regionals… 46 victories are the most since 2005… NCAA South Region No. 1 seed… Defeated Claflin and Valdosta State (twice) to reach the supers… After a 2-7 start in Gulf South play, rattled off 23 straight wins, including 15-0 mark in league games.
South Central – Angelo State University
Head Coach: Travis Scott
Associate Head Coach: Katie Scott
Graduate Assistant: Lanie Robinson
Record: 60-7 | 26-3 Lone Star Conference
National runners-up… Lone Star Conference regular season champion… Swept through regionals and super regionals as the South Central’s No. 1 seed…. Started postseason 8-0 before falling to Minnesota State in National Championship series… Swept through Lubbock Christian and Colorado Mesa (twice) in the regionals and Texas Woman’s in the supers… Earned fifth South Central Regional title… Set a program record with 60 victories which matched a LSC record… Ranked No. 1 in the NFCA Poll for seven weeks, including the final five of the regular season… Scott was named Lone Star Coach of the Year.
Southeast – Armstrong State University
Head Coach: Kim Dean
Assistant Coach: Megen Conner
Record: 38-14 | 19-5 Peach Belt Conference
Returned to the NCAA Championships and reached the semifinals for the second straight season… Posted a 7-3 mark in the postseason… No. 3 ranking in the Southeast Region… After losing first NCAA Regional game, won four straight elimination games to earn a trip to Super Regionals… Swept Super Regional matchup at Southeast No. 1 seed North Georgia… Earned wins over West Florida and Humboldt State at NCAA Championships.
West – Humboldt State University
Head Coach: Shelli Sarchett
Assistant Coach: Alicia Reid
Record: 44-15 | 22-11 California Collegiate Athletic Association
Made a return trip to the NCAA National Championships… Posted a 6-2 mark in the postseason, including a 5-0 stretch through Regionals and Super Regionals… CCAA Tournament champions, winning three straight elimination games, including two over Chico State on the final day… Earned No. 2 seed in the West Region… Started season 11-0 and won 20 of their first 21 games… Won the Desert Stinger Tournament with a 5-0 mark and went 5-1 at the Tournament of Champions.