San Diego State‘s softball coaches were named the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association has announced.
The regional award is given to each of the association’s 10 Division I regions. Each of the programs that received the recognition are eligible for the Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year, to be revealed 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, guided SDSU to a 39-17 record on the season, a Mountain West Tournament title, and the program’s first ever Super Regional appearance.
Nuveman Deniz’s staff led the program out of the Los Angeles regional, where the Aztecs posted a 3-0 record. San Diego State picked up two wins over Liberty and one over Grand Canyon, outscoring their opponents 19-3 over the three games. The pitching staff posted a 1.00 ERA in 21 innings.
Four players hit at least .340 for the Aztecs in 2023, while 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.
SDSU had three athletes earn NFCA West region honors, with Mac Barbara earning first-team honors for the second straight year. Additionally, San Diego State earned a league-high seven all-MW selections.
Nuveman Deniz is 78-33 (.703) as SDSU’s head coach with two MW championships and two NCAA tournament appearances.
The best regional and national coaching staffs are voted on by active member head coaches. Other programs that won regional honors include Utah, Tennessee, Northwestern and Oklahoma.
