SAN DIEGO – The San Diego State softball staff has been named the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Thursday afternoon from its office in Louisville, Kentucky.
The award represents each of the NFCA's 10 Division I Regions. Each of the programs who received this recognition are eligible for the NFCA's Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year, which will be announced on June 22.
The Aztecs, led by second-year head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz, and her staff including associate head coach Victoria Hayward, assistant coach Kendall Fearn, and volunteer assistant Delanie Wisz helped guide SDSU to a 39-17 record on the season, a Mountain West Tournament title, and the programs first ever Super Regional appearance.
Nuveman Deniz's staff led the program out of the Los Angeles regional, where the Aztecs posted an impressive 3-0 record. San Diego State picked up wins over Liberty twice and Grand Canyon, outscored their opponents 19-3 over the three games, while the pitching staff posted a 1.00 ERA in 21 innings, striking out 22 against two walks and holding the opposition to a .181 average in the regional, earning the Aztecs their first Super Regional appearance in program history.
Over the course of the season four players hit at least .340 for the Aztecs in 2023, including Bella Espinoza (.393, 57 R, 30 SB), Cali Decker (.368, 6 HR, 40 RBI, 29 R), Mac Barbara (.358, 13 HR, 45 RBI, 34 R) and Jillian Celis (.343, 6 HR, 48 RBI, 42 R). In the circle, the MW Pitcher of the Year Allie Light led the San Diego State pitching staff with a 15-7 record, school-record seven saves and a 1.90 ERA in 132.2 innings, while Sarah Lehman (11-5, 3 SV, 2.62 ERA, 91.0 IP) and Dee Dee Hernandez (8-3, 6 SV, 3.23 ERA. 82.1 IP) played key roles for the Aztecs throughout the season.
SDSU had three athletes earn NFCA West region honors under the coaching staffs tutelage, as Barbara earned first-team honors for the second straight year, while Decker and Light were named second-team all-West region, both for the first time in their careers. Additionally, San Diego State earned a league-high seven all-MW selections. Light was joined on the all-MW first team by Barbara and junior Makena Brocki, while four Aztecs landed on the second team, including Celis, Decker, Espinoza, and Lehman.
After a stellar 2023 campaign, second-year head coach Nuveman Deniz is 78-33 (.703) as SDSU's head coach with two Mountain West championships, two NCAA tournament appearances, one super regional appearance, and a 6-4 record in NCAA tournament games.
Regional (respective region only) and National Coaching Staffs of the Year are voted on by active member head coaches.
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