(Story courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Athletics Communications)
SEGUIN, Texas -- The Texas Lutheran Softball coaching staff was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) West (Region X) Coaching Staff of the Year as announced on Thursday, May 28. It's the fifth time in program history that the staff has been honored as the regional coaching staff of the year, all of which have come since 2019 during head coach Wade Wilson's tenure.
In 2026, the Bulldogs went 42-6, earning the number eight national seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and making the program's fourth NCAA Super Regional appearance.
The Bulldogs went 27-2 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference to win their 12th straight SCAC Regular Season Championship as well as their tenth SCAC Tournament title.
Three TLU players were named NFCA All-Americans, including Caelee Clark (first team), Katelyn Howard, and Taylor Vannett (second team). Clark also became the first athlete in NCAA history to earn the NFCA/New Balance Golden Shoe and a Rawlings Gold Glove in the same season, earning the honors at second base while stealing a NCAA-leading 89 bases.
The Bulldogs were honored with 12 SCAC postseason honors, including three superlative awards. Head Coach Wade Wilson was named SCAC Coach of the Year, Caelee Clark was named SCAC Player of the Year for a record third time, and Katelyn Howard was honored as SCAC Pitcher of the Year. Clark, Howard, Vannett, Riley Davila (Angleton/Angleton), and Serena Gonzalez (Corpus Christi/Foy H. Moody) were all All-SCAC First Team selections.
TLU once again led the country in stolen bases, breaking their own NCAA record with 256 stolen bases, becoming the first DIII team to eclipse 250 stolen bases. The Bulldogs also led the country in sacrifice flies (41) while finished second in batting average (.389) and third in hits (496) and on-base percentage (.457). Texas Lutheran set new program records in hits, stolen bases, batting average, runs (396), and RBI (342). The TLU pitching staff spun a 1.79 ERA (tenth in the nation) and a 1.16 WHIP, while the defense turned in a .979 fielding percentage, second best in the nation.
NFCA Regional Coaching Staffs of the Year
Colby (Region I)
UMass Dartmouth (Region II)
Rochester (Region III)
Stockton (Region IV)
Muhlenberg (Region V)
Virginia Wesleyan (Region VI)
Mount Union (Region VII)
WashU (Region VIII)
Simpson (Region IX)
Texas Lutheran (Region X)
