Completed Event: Softball at App State on April 18, 2026 , Win , 9, to, 3
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Final
James Madison
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at App State
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James Madison University | Official Athletics Site
Softball Coaches Named NFCA Region Staff of the Year
7/15/2014 11:28:00 AM | Softball
HARRISONBURG, Va. – The James Madison University softball program has received another postseason honor as the coaching staff was named the Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA), the organization announced.
Led by Head Coach Mickey Dean and Assistant Coaches Jennifer Herzig and Loren LaPorte, the Dukes posted a 45-15 record, setting a new school record for wins in a season and earning the program's first-ever USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll ranking in the final regular season poll. The team captured the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title outright for the first time in school history and followed it up with a CAA Tournament championship, including an 8-0 drubbing of Hofstra, the Pride's worst loss in CAA tournament play history. Earning their second-straight NCAA Tournament bid, the Dukes then moved on to the NCAA Lexington Regional, earning a win over DePaul in the postseason.
Among the top honors earned by the team, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jailyn Ford (Hot Springs, Va./Bath County) was named to the NFCA All-America Second Team, becoming the first JMU player in program history to earn NFCA All-America accolades. Five players earned NFCA Division I All-Northeast Region honors, while Madison took home 17 CAA postseason accolades, including Player, Pitcher, Co-Defensive, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards.
"It is truly an honor to receive this award voted on by our peers," Dean said. "It is a credit to the commitment and effort of our staff, Loren LaPorte, Jenn Herzig, and (volunteer assistant) Jenna Cohen."
The staff will be honored on Saturday, December 6 at the NFCA Coach Staff of the Year Brunch at the NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Led by Head Coach Mickey Dean and Assistant Coaches Jennifer Herzig and Loren LaPorte, the Dukes posted a 45-15 record, setting a new school record for wins in a season and earning the program's first-ever USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll ranking in the final regular season poll. The team captured the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) regular season title outright for the first time in school history and followed it up with a CAA Tournament championship, including an 8-0 drubbing of Hofstra, the Pride's worst loss in CAA tournament play history. Earning their second-straight NCAA Tournament bid, the Dukes then moved on to the NCAA Lexington Regional, earning a win over DePaul in the postseason.
Among the top honors earned by the team, sophomore pitcher/first baseman Jailyn Ford (Hot Springs, Va./Bath County) was named to the NFCA All-America Second Team, becoming the first JMU player in program history to earn NFCA All-America accolades. Five players earned NFCA Division I All-Northeast Region honors, while Madison took home 17 CAA postseason accolades, including Player, Pitcher, Co-Defensive, Rookie and Coach of the Year awards.
"It is truly an honor to receive this award voted on by our peers," Dean said. "It is a credit to the commitment and effort of our staff, Loren LaPorte, Jenn Herzig, and (volunteer assistant) Jenna Cohen."
The staff will be honored on Saturday, December 6 at the NFCA Coach Staff of the Year Brunch at the NFCA National Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Players Mentioned
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Saturday, May 10
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