Softball | 6/5/2024 1:17:00 PM

The Virginia Wesleyan University softball coaches were named the 2024 ATEC/NFCA Division III Regional Coaching Staff of the Year; composed of Brandon Elliott, Brianna Burger, Jim Quinn, Chris Smith, and Jenna Wilson. 

The team went 40-10 and reached the NCAA World Series for the fourth time in the last seven tournaments played and defeated Muskingum in the NCAA Super Regional round. Defeated Lebanon Valley to win the NCAA Regional title. Advanced to Super Regionals for the sixth time in the last seven NCAA tournaments. Won Old Dominion Athletic Conference tournament title for the eighth time in last 10 seasons, the seventh time in last eight, and record 15th time in conference history. The team overcame more than 225 combined player games lost to injury/illness this season.

Ten NCAA Division III programs were selected by their peers as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year, the Association announced on Wednesday.

Representing each of the NFCA's 10 Division III regions, these respective coaching staffs – Husson University (Region I), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Region II), University of Rochester (Region III), Rowan University (Region IV), Eastern University (Region V), Virginia Wesleyan University (Region VI), Trine University (Region VII), University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (Region VIII), Central College (Region IX) and Texas Lutheran University (Region X) – are now eligible for the ATEC/NFCA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 12. 

Four of this year's regional recipients — Rowan, Trine, Virginia Wesleyan, and Wisconsin-Oshkosh — advanced to the eight-team NCAA Division III World Series at Bell Park at Taylor Field on the campus of East Texas Baptist University.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rochester, Rowan, and Trine all were regional winners last season. Rochester (2021, 2023, 2024) and Texas Lutheran (2021, 2022, 2024) have been honored three times in the past four seasons, while Virginia Wesleyan and Wisconsin-Oshkosh have been recognized twice in the last four years (both also in 2021).