Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Softball Coaching Staff Named NFCA Regional Staff of the Year
6/8/2023 12:50:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern's softball coaching staff was named the 2023 ATEC/NFCA Division I Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year, announced on Thursday by the NFCA.
This marks the second year in a row in which Northwestern has earned Regional Staff of the Year honors, as well as the fifth time in program history. The Wildcats are led by Head Coach Kate Drohan, Associate Head Coach Caryl Drohan, Assistant Coach Michelle Gascoigne, and Volunteer Assistant Tony Smith.
The Wildcats put together another historic 2023 campaign under Drohan, finishing with a 42-13 record (20-3 Big Ten) on their way to securing NU's second-consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Championship for the ninth title in program history and the fourth in the Drohan era. In addition, the Wildcats won the 2023 Big Ten Tournament to secure a conference title sweep for the first time since 2008.
Northwestern earned the No. 12 national seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted its sixth NCAA Regional at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, including the third time in the last four tournaments. The 'Cats swept the Evanston Regional in three games to secure their seventh Super Regional appearance in program history and finish the 2023 campaign with a perfect 14-0 record playing at home.
Seven Wildcats earned All-Big Ten postseason honors, headlined by Drohan being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career (second-most in Big Ten history behind only Carol Hutchins). Nikki Cuchran and Danielle Williams earned First Team All-Big Ten selections, Hannah Cady, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer earned Second Team selections, while Kelsey Nader and Kansas Robinson were named to the All-Freshman Team. In addition, six Wildcats were named to the NFCA's All-Region Teams.
This season marked the second-consecutive year, and third time in five seasons, that the 'Cats have won 40+ games. This most recent NCAA Tournament trip marked 21st overall tournament appearance in program history as well as their 16th tournament appearance in the 22-year Drohan era (including their eighth in the past nine tournaments). This year's graduating class joins Wildcat classes of '87, '06, '07, '08, and '09 as the only classes in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament in every season of their careers.
This marks the second year in a row in which Northwestern has earned Regional Staff of the Year honors, as well as the fifth time in program history. The Wildcats are led by Head Coach Kate Drohan, Associate Head Coach Caryl Drohan, Assistant Coach Michelle Gascoigne, and Volunteer Assistant Tony Smith.
The Wildcats put together another historic 2023 campaign under Drohan, finishing with a 42-13 record (20-3 Big Ten) on their way to securing NU's second-consecutive Big Ten Regular Season Championship for the ninth title in program history and the fourth in the Drohan era. In addition, the Wildcats won the 2023 Big Ten Tournament to secure a conference title sweep for the first time since 2008.
Northwestern earned the No. 12 national seed in the NCAA Tournament and hosted its sixth NCAA Regional at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, including the third time in the last four tournaments. The 'Cats swept the Evanston Regional in three games to secure their seventh Super Regional appearance in program history and finish the 2023 campaign with a perfect 14-0 record playing at home.
Seven Wildcats earned All-Big Ten postseason honors, headlined by Drohan being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the fifth time in her career (second-most in Big Ten history behind only Carol Hutchins). Nikki Cuchran and Danielle Williams earned First Team All-Big Ten selections, Hannah Cady, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer earned Second Team selections, while Kelsey Nader and Kansas Robinson were named to the All-Freshman Team. In addition, six Wildcats were named to the NFCA's All-Region Teams.
This season marked the second-consecutive year, and third time in five seasons, that the 'Cats have won 40+ games. This most recent NCAA Tournament trip marked 21st overall tournament appearance in program history as well as their 16th tournament appearance in the 22-year Drohan era (including their eighth in the past nine tournaments). This year's graduating class joins Wildcat classes of '87, '06, '07, '08, and '09 as the only classes in school history to reach the NCAA Tournament in every season of their careers.
Players Mentioned
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