LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Following one of the most impressive coaching displays in recent memory, the Virginia Tech softball coaching staff earned NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year for the Mid-Atlantic Region, as announced by the organization Tuesday.
The No. 23/21 Hokies were led by first-year coach Pete D'Amour, along with assistants Kirin Kumar and Doug Gillis and volunteer assistant Matt Guemmer. The group put together a 24-game win differential from 2018 to 2019, which cracks the NCAA record book for the most improved section.
The staff guided Tech to its fourth-most wins in school history with 47 and a school-record 20 ACC victories, earning the ACC Coastal Division crown and regular-season title. On its way to 40-plus wins for the eighth time in program history, Tech went to an NCAA regional and won twice over Illinois.
The Tech record book was completely rewritten this past spring, with over 20 individual and team records being shattered. In doing so, D'Amour was tabbed ACC Coach of the Year, just Tech's second ever.
The last time the Hokies' coaching staff picked up the honor was 2013, joining the other years of 2007, 2008 and 2012.
Ten other staffs were honored representing the regions, making the 11 staffs eligible for the NFCA's National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 26.
2019 NFCA Division I Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
Central Region, Oklahoma
Great Lakes Region, Minnesota
Mid-Atlantic Region, Virginia Tech
Mideast Region, Louisiana Tech and Southeast Missouri State
Midwest Region, Oklahoma State
Northeast Region, JMU
Pacific Region, Washington
South Region, Alabama
Southeast Region, Florida
West Region, UCLA
