LOUSIVILLE, KY. – The Anderson University Softball coaching staff has been named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Regional Coaching Staff of the Year for the Southeast Region.
Eight NCAA Division II programs were selected by their peers as the 2022 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 – Kutztown University (Atlantic), Rogers State University (Central), Adelphi University (East), University of Southern Indiana (Midwest), Auburn University at Montgomery (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central), Anderson University (Southeast) and California State University Dominguez Hills (West) - are now eligible for the NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 14.
Head Coach Tommy Hewitt completed his 17th season at the helm of the Black and Gold and his teams has averaged 30 wins per year, including a school record 43 wins during the 2014 season.
The 2022 version of Anderson University softball (40-10) eclipsed the previous program best win streak of 15 straight victories, accomplished by the 2011-2012 team, defeating nonconference opponent Georgia College in game one, 11-0 (5), to win its 16th straight contest. The Trojans reached the 40-win plateau for the fourth time in program history, while Hewitt won his 500th career game.
Hewitt was named the 2022 South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career (2014), leading the Trojans to their second SAC regular season title (2014 and 2022) and a sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament, earning the hosting rights as the No. 1 ranked team in the Southeast Region.
During his 17-year tenure, Hewitt has guided his players to All-Conference accolades 43 times, including five Freshman of the Year, one Player of the Year, one Pitcher of the Year, 10 All-Region players, which include a Region Player of the Year and a Region Pitcher of the Year and seven All-Americans.
Joining the Trojan staff in June of 2021 as Hewitt's assistant, Roberts played an instrumental role in Anderson's success. Under Robert's leadership, sophomore Laken Maxwell and graduate Harlie Duncan flourished in the circle. Maxwell (21-6, 2sv) earned SAC and Region Pitcher of the Year, SAC Pitcher of the Week on four occasions and was placed on the NFCA Top-50 Watchlist for Player/Pitcher of the Year. Duncan (18-4) earned SAC All-Conference and was an All-Region selection. Together, with freshman Emily LaFoy and Trinity Queen, the Trojans pitching staff posted a stellar 2.17 ERA for the season.
Prior to Anderson, Roberts was an assistant coach/pitching coach at Gardner-Webb University (2019-21). Roberts spent a season at Wingate University (2018-2019) and was at Upper Iowa from (2015 – 2018). Roberts helped lead Upper Iowa to the NSIC Tournament championship in 2016.
Roberts graduated from Tusculum in 2014 and spent time as a camp advisor and team coach at USA Preps Softball Camp in Palmdale, Calif. She became the graduate assistant coach at the University of Rio Grande in August of 2014, earning her Master's Degree in Athletic Coaching Leadership.
Roberts began her collegiate playing career at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she helped lead the team to back-to-back PSAC championships and NCAA Tournament appearances. The Crimson Hawks won the region title in 2011, advancing to the NCAA Division II World Series. Roberts earned All-PSAC honors as a sophomore, then transferred to Tusculum for her final two seasons. The Pioneers won the SAC title in 2013, with Roberts earning a spot on the All-SAC Tournament Team. She was an honorable mention all-conference selection in 2014 while breaking the school's single-season and career shutout record.
Former Anderson standout and graduate student Mattie Hamilton also contributed to the success of the Trojans. Just one year removed from a tremendous colligate career with the Black and Gold, Hamilton's passion, dedication, and love for the game spilled over to her coaching duties and instantly grabbed the same respect from her former teammates as she had as a player.
Hamilton's name is peppered throughout Anderson's All-Time Record book. The versatile athlete's name can be found in career hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, slugging %, RBI, runs scored and on base %. Hamilton played in 197 games and during that period with an overall team record of 145-71.
Regional Winners (Records through NCAA Super Regional play)
Atlantic – Kutztown
Head Coach: Judy Lawes
Assistant Coaches: Liz Parkins, Biz Keeny, Chris Blum
Steered Kutztown to a 40-15 overall record and the No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region … Ranked 20th in final NFCA DII Coaches poll in the regular season … Swept through the Atlantic 1 Regional with a win over Fairmont State and two against West Virginia Wesleyan … Fell in the Super Regionals to Seton Hill … 40 wins (40-15) is the most victories since 2012 … Lawes was named Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference East Division Coach of the Year … Perfect run through PSAC Tournament earned the Golden Bears their first tourney title since 2013.
Central – Rogers State
Head Coach: Andrea Vaughan
Assistant Coaches: Malori Moss, Brent Payne, Danelle Day
Volunteer Assistant: Steve Scott
Headed to the NCAA Division II National Championship for the first time in program history … Won the program's first Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) tournament with a perfect 4-0 mark … Earned the Central Region's No. 1 seed … Won a pair of elimination games, before topping Minnesota State in the winner-take-all regional final… Swept Central Oklahoma in the Central Super Regional … Ranked as high as No. 2 in NFCA DII Coaches Poll … Shattered single-season win record (42 in 2008) as the Hillcats enter the National Championship with a 53-10 mark.
East – Adelphi
Head Coach: Carla Campagna
Assistant Coach: Lou Vanacore
Captured the East Region's top seed as well as the Northeast-10 Conference's regular season and tournament titles … Posted a 47-13 overall mark heading into the National Championship as the No. 2 overall seed … Won 15 of their last 18 games … Won the East 1 Regional after dropping the first game and winning four elimination games … Rallied in Super Regionals after falling in game one to Wilmington … 47 wins is a program record.
Midwest – University of Southern Indiana
Head Coach: Sue Kunkle
Assistant Coach: MacKenzi Dorsam
Graduate Assistants: Kelcey Carrasco
Volunteer Assistant: Emily Goodin
Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) regular season and tournament champions … Making the program's third national championship appearance … Earned the No. 5 overall seed at the NCAA Championship after being the Midwest's No. 1 seed and region champion … Entered national championship with a 49-11 overall record, which is the second most victories amongst tournament participants … Battled through Midwest 1 Regional winning four elimination contests after being defeated in game one … Dropped just two games in GLVC play, finished with a 26-2 mark … Kunkle named GLVC Coach of the Year.
South – Auburn University at Montgomery
Head Coach: Eric Newell
Assistant Coach: Scottie Wilkes
AUM's staff is capturing the award for the second straight season after earning the program's first trip to the NCAA Division II Championship … The Warhawks won the Gulf South regular season and tournament titles for the second-straight season … Earned the No. 1 seed in the South Region and after a South Region championship, heads into the NCAA Championship as the No. 3 overall seed … Headed into the national championship, the Warhawks posted a 48-11 overall record and 25-5 in Gulf South action … Newell earned his first Gulf South Coach of the Year honor.
South Central – University of Texas at Tyler
Head Coach: Mike Reed
Associate Head Coach: Whitney Wyly
Assistant Coaches: Anthony Springer & Tristin Anders
Second consecutive year earning this honor … The Patriots were ranked No. 1 in the NFCA DII Top 25 Coaches Poll for all but one week this season and earned the No. 1 overall seed in the South Central Region and the NCAA National Championship … Won the Lone Star Conference (LSC) regular-season title for the second consecutive season and first South Central Region title … Headed to their first-ever NCAA DII National Championship Tournament … UT Tyler posted a 47-7 record and 26-4 in LSC play … Reed repeated as LSC Coach of the Year.
Southeast – Anderson University
Head Coach: Tommy Hewitt
Assistant Coaches: Kelly Roberts & Mattie Hamilton
The Trojans captured the No. 1 seed in Southeast Region and reached regional final … Posted a 40-10 overall record and 20-4 in the South Atlantic Conference… Hewitt was tabbed the SAC Coach of the Year as he steered the Trojans to a SAC regular-season title … Hewitt picked up his 500th career victory on April 2 against Newberry … Anderson led the SAC in slugging (.556) and home runs per game (1.3).
West – Cal State Dominguez Hills
Head Coach: Jim Maier
Assistant Coaches: Katie Garcia, Stephanie Guerra, Jared Maier, Lexi Madrid
Making their first ever appearance as the No. 8 seed at the DII National Championship … As the West Region's No. 6 seed, their first bid since 2013, the Toros went 3-1 in the West 2 Regional, knocking off No. 3 Chico State and the host and No. 2 seed Concordia Irvine twice … Won games one and three at No. 1 West seed Cal State San Marcos to capture the West Region title … It marks coach Maier's first NCAA Regional title in his 30-plus year coaching career … First 40-win season since 2012 (41-12 record entering NCAA Championship).
