LOUISVILLE, Ky. - - Eight NCAA Division II programs were selected by their peers as the 2023 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, including the Wilmington University softball coaching staff led by Mike Shehorn.
It's another first for the program in 2023, as the Wildcats had a historic season after winning the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Regular Season Title, the CACC Tournament Championship, the NCAA DII East Region 2 Tournament, and the East Super Regional Series to advance to the NCAA DII Softball Championships.
Mike Shehorn and his staff, assistant coaches James Brittingham, Tom Freeland, and Jerry Grasso, helped led the Wildcats to a program record 44 victories in 2023, going 44-16 overall. The team batted .325 while the pitching staff produced a 2.14 ERA with nine shutouts. The defense also yielded a CACC best .962 fielding percentage for the season.
Representing each of the NFCA's eight Division II regions, these respective coaching staffs – East Stroudsburg University (Atlantic), University of Central Oklahoma (Central), Wilmington University (East), University of Indianapolis (Midwest), University of Tampa (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central), University of North Georgia (Southeast) and California State University San Marcos (West) - are now eligible for the ATEC/NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 13.
Six programs – East Stroudsburg, Central Oklahoma, Wilmington, UT Tyler, North Georgia and Cal State San Marcos – competed at the NCAA Division II Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by member head coaches.