LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Drake University's softball coaching staff was one of eleven honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as a 2018 Division I Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, announced the NFCA Tuesday afternoon, June 12.
 
Representing each of the NFCA's 10 Division I regions, these respective coaching staffs – Oklahoma, St. Francis, Michigan, Ohio, Liberty, Drake, Hofstra, Oregon, Arkansas, South Carolina and Arizona State – garnered Coaching Staff of the Year honors. These 11 programs, along with national champion Florida State, are eligible for the NFCA's Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 27.
 
Midwest – Drake
Overall: 45-12 MVC: 24-1
Head Coaches: Rich Calvert
Assistant Coaches: Tina DeAngelo, Kasey Griffith
 
Season Highlights
MVC regular season and tournament champs … Reached the Eugene Regional final… Won the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament games with two victories over BYU... Set program record for most overall wins and MVC wins… Recorded a program-record 24-game winning streak… Garnered MVC Coaching Staff of the Year honors… Redshirt junior pitcher Nicole Newman (Madison, Wis.) first-ever Bulldog to earn NFCA All-American honors (third team) … Sophomore Mandi Roemmich (West Des Moines, Iowa) was first-ever Bulldog to be named MVC Player of the Year.