Don’t Forget… Less Than 3 Weeks to Nominate Your Favorite Club Coach(es)!

This is Brentt Eads of Extra Inning Softball…

We’ve been honoring young athletes for several years via the Extra Elite 100 rankings and due to the positive reactions it’s received, we also periodically recognize coaches and teams who do impressive work in fastpitch softball.

In December, Extra Inning Softball will be spotlighting top club coaches throughout the country through a nomination process. The nomination form can be found at ExtraInningSoftball.com in the dropdown menu titled Rankings.

*** The nomination form can also be accessed by clicking HERE.

Select the Coach option when submitting the nomination.  Nominations can be submitted by coaches, fans and players.

Here is the schedule for the rankings will be unveiled from Dec. 11 to Dec. 22:

Club Coach Rankings

• November 6, 2023 – Nominations opened
• December 1, 2023 – Nominations close
• December 11, 2023 – Rankings begin
• December 11-15, 2023 – Coaches rankings revealed (1-50)
• December 18, 2023 – Top-ranked coach spotlight
• December 19-22, 2023 – Coaches rankings revealed (51-100)

Note that COLLEGE coach rankings will take place in March 2023 and HIGH SCHOOL coach rankings will be published in May 2024!

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… and to give you a taste of what to expect, here’s the Top 10 from the previous travel ball coach postings:

The Final Countdown! Extra Elite 100 Club Coach Rankings: #’s 10-1 (Dec. 31, 2021)

Originally published Dec. 31, 2021 on Extra Inning Softball

The number in parentheses is ranking in 2020; NR = not ranked in the prior ratings.

T-10 (10)—Ryan & Taylor Taylor (Aces Fastpitch)
Generally soft-spoken on the fields, but laser focused when it comes to everything off the fields, Coaches Ryan and Taylor Taylor are not only raising three vibrant, active and typically energetic young kids under the ages of 5 (and one on the way!), they’re also setting the bar high for those who want to run an organization and make an impact as they do. The husband/wife coaches started their Aces organization in 2010 and not only are winning and producing dozens of college-bound athletes, they’re also co-owners of Team 1 Fastpitch which produces top events in the Midwest and Ryan is also the Commissioner of the Heart of America Fastpitch League and sits on the Alliance Fastpitch board.  Over the past few years they’ve won Boulder IDT at the 18U level and have won Top Club 16U Nationals (also in 2019) Top 10 finishes at PGF Nationals, Top Club Nationals and Colorado Fireworks.  Impressively, in 2021 the three oldest teams all were in the Elite 8 at Nationals: 18U, 7^th; 16U 7^th; and 14U finished 5^th, make the Aces one of only three clubs in the country to have a trio of teams in the Top 8. The 16U team also finished 3^rd at Colorado Sparkler/Fireworks (Power Pool). On the player front, four Ace standouts were invited to the Jr. National Team tryouts and three made it. Also, as noted on the Aces social media pages, the organization had nine players listed in the 2021 Extra Elite 100, seven in the 2022 class and another seven in the 2023 class showing that top talent is playing and being developed by the Taylors. “There’s been a lot of great memories between Boulder IDT championships and Top 10 national finishes,” says Ryan Taylor, “but seeing our players be prepared and succeed at the next level sticks with me the most.  Whether it be national championships, All Americans, or really, any success on and off the field, is so rewarding.  Being able to help them on the journey is the best reward I could ask for.”  Coach Greg Dickel, who co-owns Team 1, says of Ryan: “I may be biased because he is my business partner, however, he’s still one of the best softball coaches in the game today and is tremendous at player development and promoting his players to the next level.”

T-10 (11)—Doug Myers (Firecrackers – Brashear)
Coach Ed Naudin of the Texas Glory organization used to live in Southern California and coach there and summed up the legacy of Coach Myers perfectly when he said, “Doug is truly a legend in this sport and no (rankings) list of coaches is complete without him.” Myers’ career in fastpitch softball goes back to 1984 when he began coaching and training players in the club and high school fields. He made his mark as a hitting instructor developing lefty slappers and helped develop some of the most famous hitters in the sport’s history including Caitlin Lowe, Natasha Watley, Chip Bennett, Kylie Reed and Nikki Udria. Coach Myers had a remarkable career at Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, California, winning 397 games over 20 years and capturing two CIF titles and one national championships. On the travel ball side, he has been part of six national championships in his time with the Batbusters, So Cal A’s and Firecrackers. Currently, Myers is helping with Sean Brashears’ 16U Firecrackers team which suffered a tragic loss when the head coach of that team, Steve Harrington, suffered a heart attack and died this year. Coach Myers is also facing a personal battle as he has prostate cancer, having undergone 16 treatment sessions to date with 12 to go. “I’m battling and feel good,” he said earlier today. Despite all the difficulties this year, the Firecrackers 16U team he helps with still took 3^rd place at Alliance Nationals and Triple Crown as well as Top 10 at the Colorado Fireworks. Coach Myers, who is also active running his 714 Fastpitch training facility in Orange, California says of his illustrious career: “What I’m most proud of is the friendships I’ve been able to make over the years with the different coaches and players. You get to see the athletes move on to the next level and these have been a huge part of my life. Getting to know these wonderful people means everything to me.”

9 (36)—James Lamar (Lady Dukes)
Few coaches have made such a meteoric and impact rise over the last few years as Coach Lamar who, in five years, has built the Lady Dukes up as one of the top programs in the country, finishing 2^nd this year at PGF Nationals and Top Gun Invitational and being co-champions at Colorado Fireworks. It’s well documented that he’s married to Duke head coach Marissa Young and his father-in-law, Robert Young (another Top 20-ranked club coach), is on staff along with well-respected pitching coach Laura Rothrock, but you can’t discount the success that the Lady Dukes are having not just on the field but in growing their organization and developing players. “I’m proud of the fact that all of our kids are going to college, “Coach Lamar says, “and most proud of the lives we have impacted through the game of softball, the former and current players who will make it to college and are great people off the field.” Lamar says he’s “blessed” to have people like Tony Vega, his assistant coaches Young and Rothrock as well as Jody Sykes, Kenny Monroe and Tony Rico as friends and influencers who have “played a large role in my development as a coach and leader.” His peers are effusive in their praise of the successful coach too. Beth Singleton, whose Nebraska Gold 18U team beat the Lady Dukes at PGF, says: “We played his team six times last Summer and they were all meaningful, closely contested games, ending up 3-3 and James and his team competed with class and honor every time. He does a great job of hyping up his players and letting the talent play without overcoaching. We have nothing but respect for James and the Lady Dukes program.” Todd Mayfield, who coaches with the East Cobb Bullets, adds: “It was impressive how Coach Lamar started a new program and has built it to be one of the top ones in the nation.”

T-8 (6)—Kevin Shelton (Texas Glory)
If ever a President of the United States was to come from the softball world, you’d think it would be Coach Shelton because of his amazing and successfully diverse list of accomplishments. He received a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering and a Master’s in Computer Resources and Information Management. He then was an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Navy Submarine Force and in his professional life has been an executive at Proctor & Gamble, Frito-Lay and Pepsico. And, oh yea, today he has six children, seven grandkids and has been married over 34 years. Then there’s the softball side, which has seen his Texas Glory organization finish in the Top 5 of so many events this year, Shelton has a website page and spreadsheet to list them all. The player development side has been jaw-dropping as well: 784 college commits in his career and an eye-opening 157 this year alone. It’s been a 25-year career in the sport for Coach Shelton who has been with the Glory program for 22 of those seasons and has been the head coach of the 18U squad for 16 years. When asked what stands out in his accomplished softball career, Coach Shelton responds: “I’m proud of the players finding good fits in college and contributing to their teams in school and also proud of them earning degrees, going on to be productive citizens and of those who give back to the game.  I’m equally proud of the cadre of leaders we have committed to this effort, specifically a focus on helping young people understand “team” and becoming the best they can be by teaching and modeling effective life skills.” His admiring peers agree that he has made an impact on the sport. Patrick Moyer of Fury Premier says: “I admire Kevin because I believe he does things the right way and is in this for the good of his players.” Brooks Cherry, head of the Mojo organization, adds: “Kevin is a high character guy. He hasn’t changed over the years and that’s a good thing. He does things the right way and continues to compete at a high level and win championships.” Steve Jones of Hotshots Premier, a fellow Texas, praises Shelton for his interactions with his players : “Kevin is a very smart guy—that’s evident when speaking with him and when watching him interact with his girls.  One of the things I admire most is his ability to convey thought without the need to scream or shout but still be firm.  It’s a trait I think is often underrated in the effectiveness to influence player development.”

T-8 (13)—Rock Thompson (Birmingham Thunderbolts – Thompson)
The Birmingham Thunderbolts have been, for years, one of the premier organizations in the country and produced hundreds of college signees as well as finishing highly in major tournaments nationwide. For example, the Coach Thompson-led Bolts finished 3^rd this year at PGF 18U Nationals and the 16U team also took 3^rd. The Andrew Burns-led 2024 team finished 7^th at 14U and the 12U team took 9^th which equates to four of four Top 10 finishes with the program. This was Coach Thompson’s 10^th year with the Alabama-based program and along the way he’s won Atlanta Legacy, Triple Crown Nationals and USA Gold Nationals—all last year—as well as many other Top 5 finishes over the years. In 2021 Coach Thompson’s 2023 team took 3^rd at Show Me The Money and went undefeated at Team 1 Elite while the Bolts 18U Premier team took 3^rd place at the Boulder IDT tournament and finished in the Final Four of the Top Club Invitation in addition to the 3^rd place at PGF. “I am so appreciative for the opportunity that Richard Shea has trusted me to be part of this great organization and help develop such amazing players,” Coach Thompson says. “I am most proud to see these young ladies achieve their goals from development, personal achievements and scholarship opportunities. From our 10U teams to our 18U teams, seeing these young players grow as young ladies and seeing them interact and learn from each other is more rewarding than anything because I know how much it benefits everyone in the process.” Coach Rocks admirers are many and include Justin Kaplan, who is himself a coach within the organization. “Coach Rocky runs the Thunderbolts Premier organization,” he says, “and is the one who makes it run.  I have never met a coach who runs a better practice than Coach Rock nor have I seen a club coach who is as good at managing a game and getting the most out of his players.  He is one of the most humble people I have ever met and cares about every single girl who comes through Irondale, Alabama.” Jenny Buzzell-Parker of Virginia Unity adds: “Rock is the guy! Not only are his teams always tough and have proven success but Rock is a true leader! If there are Thunderbolt teams playing, you will most definitely see Rock there supporting them. At PGF Nationals alone, the man went field to field and he spends his off weekends running organizational workouts for all the Premier teams. He isn’t only invested in his team but the entire organization. He keeps it real when chatting with and evaluating players and is a lot of fun to chat softball with as a peer.”

T-7 (5)—Patrick Lewis (Georgia Impact – Lewis)
Coach Lewis has had a challenging year as he’s battled COVID off the softball fields and, since starting club coaching in 2006, rolled out perhaps his youngest team ever in his 15 years of coaching. Add to that notable player injuries and it would have been a “rebuilding year” for most programs, but Lewis and his standout assistants Lincoln Martin and Rick Jaegle were able to do what Coach Lewis believes “may have been our best coaching job” in the decade and a half of the team’s existence. The Impact 18U team won Show Me the Money in Gainesville, finished 3^rd at Top Club and tied for 7^th at PGF Nationals making it six years in a row that the team finished at least that high. Previously, the squad finished 2^nd in 2019 after winning it in 2018 and also in 2015 as a 14U team. That, in addition to four Top 10 finishes previously, at ASA/USA Nationals. “Our consistent top finishes at Nationals with graduating rosters every year is something that I am proud of our staff for,” Coach Leiws says. “Being able to sustain consistency is difficult but it speaks to the depth of our staff and commitment to our players. I think what my staff does well is getting each player to be the best individual player that they can possible be while at the same time instilling a belief in each player that it isn’t about the individual but about the team and having as much pride in the success of their teammate as they do their own.” Lewis also says he loves the relationships that have been built over time. “I have so many players that come back year after year just to hang out or just talk about life, so many former players that I still hear from almost weekly. It lets me know that we made a difference and impacted their lives and that is why I do this.” Notables to come out of the Peach State program are numerous and included Skylar Wallace, Hannah Adams, Kelley Lynch, Charla Echols and Julia Cottrill, just to name a few. Bret Denio, who runs the Explosion program out of Southern California and works with PGF events, says: “Patrick consistently builds an elite team and also treats them with respect and accountability.”

T-7 (13)—Mark Griggs (Wichita Mustangs – Griggs)
Coach Griggs jumping into the Top 10 may be surprising to some as he has the only “one-team organization” in the list but the support he has from his high-echelon peers was impressive as we reached out to over 150 club coaches nationwide. Coach Griggs has been a softball coach for over 17 years after earlier being in the dugouts as a baseball coach and in 2021 his team performed well, finished Top 4 at Boulder IDT and tying for 9^th at Alliance Nations as well as winning the USSSA World Series in Kansas City. His team was stocked with senior talent and included three who signed with Florida State and two who are now at Georgia Tech. What makes the success on the field impressive is there is no built in younger teams feeder program that most organizations have. Griggs says: “I rely on kids calling me or college commits being told by their schools that they should come play for me.” This Fall, the Mustangs 18U team went 22-3 with wins over several Top 20 teams and qualified for the Super Cup, Alliance Nationals and received an at-large bid to ASA Gold Nationals and, at the end of the year, was the #3-ranked team in the Alliance National rankings. The system used by Griggs is also much different than all others in that players commit to moving with the team for the whole Summer as the athlete leave their families at the beginning of June and don’t return home until the Summer is over. One year, players were on the road traveling in the Mustangs chartered bus for 28 straight days. “They stay together as a team, eat together, and travel together,” Griggs explains. “This is just like they will experience in college.” The rewards are worth it, says the club coach: “I am extremely proud of how our kids turn out.  I believe we send sophomores to college, not freshmen!  I know that our players will contribute to their respective schools right away, because of their experience on and off the field.” One top club coach tells the story of being impressed when the Mustangs lost their final game of the Summer. “I was watching their dugout,” he said, “and all the kids were on the bench crying because they were done and would miss each other. I saw Mark get emotional and it was clear these players and the coaches loved each other. I got emotional just watching it because you could see they truly cared about the game and each other.”

T-6 (3)—Bruce Richardson (So Cal Athletics – Richards)
Coach Richardson has set the mark for club coaches and programs over the years as a standard bearer of excellence and consistency. The Athletics have won 11 national championships including the first four 18U PGF Premier Nationals that started in 2010. Amazingly, every year at PGF Nationals since it began and annually competing against elite level competition—read: many of the top club coaches elsewhere on this list!—the Athletics have never finished out of the Top 10 at PGF Nationals. It starts with Coach Richardson and his assistants Jess Martinson and Bill Sparrey who have decades of experience between them and have seen just about everything that’s possible to be seen on the field. The organization has also produced nearly 400 alumni who have played at major programs nationwide going back to 1998 and Jocelyn Forrest (Cal) and 1999 (Natasha Watley) to players through the years such as Aubree Munro (Florida), who played in the Tokyo Olympics this year. Coach Richardson is so highly respected that he annually puts on the prestigious So Cal A’s Invitational that includes just the best dozen or so club teams at 18U but elite programs who may be loyal to either Alliance or PGF will put aside organizational loyalties to play in the tournament held each June. Still, it all goes back to the success on the fields and there’s no signs that the A’s will be slowing down anytime soon. Said another top So Cal club coach: “When you talk about chemistry in the dugout, Bruce does it year after year.”

T-6 (9)—Nathan Nelson (Hotshots Premier – Nelson)
The passion is evident: talk to Coach Nathan Nelson about his players and what they mean to him and don’t be surprised if he becomes emotional. The game and the responsibilities he feels to develop those over whom he has stewardship is something the coach takes very seriously—and therefore takes a lot of pride in. The numbers demonstrate the successful results he’s had both on and off the field. In his career, Coach Nelson has won 10 national championships including three at PGF Nationals with the most recent being this year, a 7-0 run at 16U capped by a finale win over a strong Mojo – Fisher team. Also in 2021, the Hotshots finished Top 5 in the rained out Top Club Invite or could have possibly had another trophy added to its case. Despite all the wins, however, Nelson—who played baseball at Louisiana and later in the Houston Astros organization—says it’s the people that makes his coaching role so rewarding: “Building the relationships with the players on and off the field and being able to help them grow as people and athletes is my favorite part of coaching.  Watching them play at the next level is priceless and it’s all for the love of the game!” Coach James Lamar, himself in the Top 10 of these club coach rankings, says: “Nathan will always compete no matter what and he will be in the finals every year because he gets the most out of his kids.” Steven Jones, who recently rejoined the Hotshots organization after being with the program previously, is also a big fan of Nelson and his love of the game and his players. “The results speak for themselves and Coach Nelson has consistently produced great results.  Not just as a coach of a team who has won multiple national, regional and local titles year after year but also as an organizational head of an program that continues to produce high level successful teams and players.  The player and their development is of such huge importance to me that Coach Nelson’s proven excellence in that area was probably the primary factor for my team to return to the Hotshots organization.  What he has done with the athletes on his team and in the org and how he has continued to mature and adapt is impressive.”

T-5 (7)—Scott Smith (Texas Bombers)
Coach Smith has run the bombers program now for over two decades and just keeps seeing his organization reach new heights. This year his team finished 2^nd at the Alliance National Championship in Oklahoma City, losing a heartbreaker in the finale to the A’s – Mercado/Smith team it had beaten previously in the year. The gauntlet was tough enough as the Bombers, who went 72-5 on the year, had to beat the Firecrackers, OC Batbusters and Corona Angels to get to the title game. “That’s what is fueling us this year… ‘Leave No Doubt!’” Still, the team led by players committed to Power 5 schools like Texas and LSU, had its share of triumphs including winning the Colorado Fireworks 18U Power, the Triple Crown Sports Fireworks TV Backet as well as the TFL Summer and Fall Championships. “The run our team made last year was incredible,” remembers Coach Smith. “We fell short of our goal, but the season we put together has been unmatched in the state of Texas and we are excited to take another shot at it this coming season.” The organization has also been set up with successful coaches being put over charge of flagship teams including James Burgess over the second 18U team, John Carpenter heading the 16U squad and Kristi Malpass with the 14U squad. Coach Smith also has the respect of other club coaches including those in Texas. David McCorkle, himself a recent add to the Bomber program, says “Scott’s constant drive for greatness and to better the sport is the reason why we partnered on many things… we figured we could do a lot of great things together!” Kevin Shelton of Texas Glory adds: “Scott is super competitive and leads the way on a data-driven approach.” Another Alliance-associated coach, Greg Dickle of Iowa Premier, explains: “Scott is recognized by many as the next Tony Rico of our game. He’s a tremendous coach and leader and has tremendous vision for the future of this sport.”

T-5 (6)—TJ Goelz (Tampa Mustangs)
The accomplishments for Coach Goelz are unparalleled: He was the #1 coach in the Extra Inning Softball 2021 High School Coach Rankings announced on Christmas Eve Day and, now, a week later, is honored to be in the Top 5 of the Extra Inning Softball 2021 Club Coach Rankings. He’s only been a high school softball coach for five years at Lakewood Ranch High in Bradenton, Florida, but he coached the team to its first Florida Class 7A state title and so far has a 119-11 record that includes three State Final Fours already. For that he was also honored as the Extra Inning Softball National High School Coach of the Year in 2021, but since this is the club rankings, let’s see what he’s done there. In 2021, the Mustangs finished first at the Atlanta Legacy Invitation, 3^rd at PGF 18U Nationals, took the same spot at the USA Softball JO Cup, took 9^th at the TCS Sparkler Power Pool and finished as Triple Crown Sports Southeast Nationals runners-up. Last year his team finished 1^st at that same TCS even and won the World Fastpitch Championship. At the National level in his career he has 1,072 wins against 250 losses for an .811 winning percentage. The system is working at both the prep and travel ball levels and one of his coaching peers explains: “T.J. is always in the conversation for a national title and you can also tell that when you coach against him, he has a tremendous knowledge of the game and how to adjust.  I just have tremendous respect for him.” In his accomplished career, so much has worked well so we asked Coach Goelz what stands out to him. “There are two things that have brought me the most satisfaction and pride in my career as a coach. The first is our consistent run of success at the top National tournaments.  That is very hard to do and we’ve done it with four different teams.  Playing super deep or late into tournaments gets us the best return on investment which is language I live and breathe every day. The second thing that gives me the most satisfaction and pride is the relationships that Liz and I have built with players, families, travel ball coaches, tourney directors, “softball people” and college coaches across the country.  We really enjoy the friendships we have made. Last night we had a TMTJ alumni game versus current TMTJ players as we do every December.  We had 13 alumni come back to play (all are still playing college softball and some from as far back as 2006-8 and under).  Those 13 plus 12 TMTJ battling it out on December 30th was a sight to be seen. There was lots of good softball, laughs and smiles everywhere.  Those memories are priceless!”

T-4 (3)—Tony Rico (Firecrackers – Rico)
It’s been a year of transition in some ways for Coach Rico, who took over his 18U team and, as he says: “had to qualify for the first time in 10 years one week after taking the team over full-time.” That team went in to win the Triple Crown Sports national championship going through the tough competition to do it and then finished the year taking 7th at the first-ever Alliance Nationals. In the Fall, the Rico-led Firecrackers team qualified for the Alliance Nationals set for the Summer of 2022 and also won its pool in the first stage of the Alliance Super Cup. The year was also made challenging off the field as two key assistants on Sean Brashear’s teams, Bill Hicks and Steve Harrington, unexpectedly died leaving the organization hurting with the loss of two beloved coaches. Still, if there’s one thing that Coach Rico has been known for over the years, it’s staying emotionally in control and balanced no matter what life or the game of softball brings. In his career, Coach Rico won the 2011 Jr. World Championships working alongside Karen Johnson and then went on to capture two titles at ASA Nationals, one PGF crown, three Triple Crown championships and have seven Top 3 Nationals finishes in a 10-year span (2006-2016). Equally impressive, the Firecrackers have won 10 Colorado Fireworks trophies including eight in a row. Today, the organization has expanded into 24 states—“all by demand,” Rico adds—and says being a “founding member and working alongside the biggest names and orgs in the sport with Alliance Fastpitch, which is truly focused on empowering others to reach their goals, has been the most rewarding venture in my career so far.” This year, he’s launching another venture, a new pitching brand called The Range, with Holly Pearce which he says is “designed to increase the value and reliability of all pitchers who are members.” In general, Rico muses: “Our core principles amongst all this is to love and respect our peers and competitors. I’d like to think we’ve done that.” Fellow coaches would say so. Clay Lara of the OC Batbusters comments: “Tony has been a cornerstone of elite level preparation and training, but he does not walk around like he is the greatest coach ever but is humble and professional.” Lindsey Munow of the Lady Magic organization says: “Tony does a great job on the field with the girls and, obviously, he’s been a prolific coach in travel ball for a while. Jason Pantages, who sees Rico regularly as he too is a Firecracker coach, finishes by saying: “Tony’s resume speaks for itself but the thing I’ve been most impressed by with him is how great he is with the players in his organization.  He not only wants them to be great players,  he wants them to be great young ladies as well and does a great job mentoring them for the future.”

T-4 (4)—Bill Conroy (Bevery Bandits – Conroy)
Coach Conroy started the Beverly Bandits 23 years ago from humble rec ball beginnings and in the nearly quarter century later he’s developed it into what most would agree is the dominant travel softball program in the Midwest. The organization has won 12 national titles, the most recent being the PGF 12U Premier championship which means the Bandits have won it all at PGF at 18U (2017), 16U (2016 and 2019) and now 12U. Other national championships have come at the Colorado Fireworks and Boulder IDT events. The Bandits cover the Midwest with teams and players from Illinois, Indiana and Ohio primarily but only have 11 “Premier” teams and four “Futures” squads. What Conroy does that’s somewhat unusual is he doesn’t have one primary team at each age division, but spreads the wealth around so all teams are fairly balanced in talent.  In 2021, the first-year 16U team surprised most by finishing 3^rd at PGF Nationals and Conroy says “I personally got great satisfaction seeing the young ladies mature into a team that worked together, to become great teammates, while at the same time still understanding that everyone is counting on each player to do their job.” As great as the wins have been Coach Conroy says that “most from the outside would look at the four National Championships or two NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Rear awards that I have been fortunate enough to be part of but the reality is the 450-plus kids that have gone on play softball and get an education are the things makes me most proud.” And as great as the softball legacy has and will be for Conroy, his desire to strengthen athletes off the field has been a gamechanger as well. The Empowering Girls for Life conventions began in 2018 and have hosted Olympic gold medalists, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, educators, motivators, and other role female models who have shared their ideas on how to “empower girls today.” Not surprisingly, coaching peers respect what Conroy has done to help young athletes live their dreams. Beth Singleton of the PGF National Championships 18U team Nebraska Gold, says: “Bill is a coaching legend and one of the best strategists in the club game. His teams always compete cleanly and with speed making them fun to watch and tough to beat.” Camille Hayes of PA Strikers adds: “I watch the way Bill interacts with his players and how he creates a special bond with them.  He’s very serious and competitive at times, sure, and he does a fabulous job of training his players and running his org, but, he’s best when he’s smiling and laughing with his players and coaches—something he does more than most think.  I truly admire him and the respect he’s earned from just about everyone!”

3 (4)—Dave Mercado (Athletics – Mercado)
Coach Mercado paid his dues early on as he coached his daughter, Danica Mercado,” as well as several other young and promising future stars such as sisters Sydney and Sierra Romero at the 12U level before they went on to play for the late Mark Campbell’s 14U Victory team. Eventually, Coach Mercado worked in Bruce Richardson’s So Cal Athletics organization and won four national titles there including two at 12U, one at 14U and an 18U PGF National title.  In 2010, Mercado and Brian Tidd partnered and started the Gamers Academy which has grown into the Athletics powerhouse softball organization that today has teams in states as wide ranging as Arizona, Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Nevada. Coach Tidd, who also made the Club Coach Top 50 rankings, knows Mercado well and says, “Dave’s knowledge and experience prepares for every situation, he identifies his teams and his opponents game situations, game tendency and or deficiencies and makes game time adjustments to those better than any coach in the game. Dave’s players know where they stand with him and respect him very much. He definitely gets their best every time they step on the field.” That “best” culminated with the A’s – Mercado 18U team winning the first-ever Alliance Nationals this summer, which was held in Oklahoma City. In addition to the big Nationals win, the team finished 2^nd at Triple Crown Nationals and 3^rd at Boulder IDT. Tidd continues: “Dave has a deep roster from our Academy product of kids moving through our program, but always says he doesn’t care who is in the starting nine, he plays the players that have earned that spot at that given time. Every player has that opportunity but it depends on their success and their continued work. This player accountability has prepared so many of our athletes in their collegiate career.” Fellow coaches see and appreciate what Mercaco, Tidd and Assistant Coach Mark Smith have built. Brooks Cherry of Tennessee Mojo says simply, “Dave just gets it done. His kids are always focused and compete. I think he proved that this past year with some injuries and losing some kids while still winning the Alliance championship.” Within the A’s organization, A.J. Robinson of A’s Mercado – San Diego, continues: “Dave, Brian and the Athletics-Mercado Academy are doing great things. They have created a strong system for learning and development, and it is showing up every weekend when you look at all the success their teams are having in events across the country.”

2 (1)—Marty Tyson (Corona Angels)
Marty cares. Ask anyone about the legendary So Cal-based coach who started the Corona Angels 23 years ago and you hear terms like “passion” and “energy.” And he won’t let a mistake go uncorrected after the lesson has been drilled into the player—that’s for sure. Once at an event, an Angels player swung at the first pitch and Coach Tyson called time and told the referee the batter was being replaced. One pitch into the inning. When asked why afterwards, with typical Coach Tyson fervor, he stated: “We worked all week on not swinging at a first pitch changeup and what does she do?” And the answer was left hanging in the air. Coach Tyson has been a gamechanger in more ways than one. He’s won multiple national championships including two this year alone at the Alliance Nationals as his 14U and 10U teams won trophies while the 18U team won the Boulder Louisville Championship. He’s coached and produced champions at every age division and part of the reason for his success is his stable of outstanding coaches that included long-time winners such as Mike Perez, Kim Howard and Dena Slye, who just happens to be Coach Tyson’s daughter. Slye was an All-American at the University of Washington and is now giving back to the game through developing the future Rachel Garcia’s (UCLA), Shay Knighten’s and Megan Faraimo’s (UCLA), not some of the more recent names that have come through the Angels program. Coach Tyson is a great teacher and excels at developing young players. Look at the 2020-2021 Alliance National team rankings and you’ll see that  Corona Angels are all Top 10 ranked: #8 at 18U (Angels – Tyson); #8 at 16U (Angels – Slye), #4 at 14U (Angels – Tyson) #3 at 12 U (Angels – Jordan) and #1 at 10 U (Angels – Dre). A great compliment to Coach Tyson was given several years ago when a DI National Championship-winning coach was asked what type of player she looks to recruit. The answer: “A Marty Tyson-type of player, one who’s emotionally strong and is prepared for the pressures of this level.” His fellow club coaches admire Coach Tyson for the winning, yes, but more so how his players carry themselves, including when their playing careers are over. Clay Lara of the OC Batbusters believes: “Marty is a unique style of coach who gets mislabeled as being loud and distracting. If you listen to him, he is just preaching what he teaches his players; he re-enforces their ability to play at a high level and holds them accountable. And Marty always has his teams ready day in and day out.” Adds James Lamar of the Lady Dukes: “The man is a genius in getting the most of his players and in how he pushes kids to be the best version of themselves.” A coach who wished to remain anonymous commented: “With Marty, if you take away the rough outside he puts out there, the guy is a teddy bear and he has done more for inter-city kids than anyone in the game. The thing with Marty is, his kids get better in both softball and in life.  He makes kids tougher and ready for the real world and he is also one of the toughest teams in the country year in and year out.” Todd Mayfield, a coach with the East Cobb Bullets, says simply: “When I started coaching, my goal was and still is to be looked at in the game of softball like the great Marty Tyson.”

1 (2)—Mike Stith (OC Batbusters)
Coach Mike Stith comes from a football background but he’s done alright in softball too. Of the more than 150 club coaches we reached out to and got responses from, more than 75 percent had Coach Stith on their short list of 1-5 coaches they felt were impactful in the game today and were peers they respected. Stith’s breadth of success has been impressive and not just in club ball—he’s also coached on the professional side, having been with the USSSA Pride in the NPF so he has experience in winning with the best softball players in the world as well as young teens of all ages.

Coach Stith has won seven National Championships as a head coach and seven more as an assistant coach. He’s produced some of the greats in the game, ranging from Amanda Lorenz (Florida), Sydney Romero (Oklahoma), Delaney Spaulding (UCLA), Morganne Flores (Washington) and Dejah Mulipola (Arizona) a few years ago to current standouts like Oklahoma’s Jocelyn Alo and Tiare Jennings, who just happened to win a National Championships for the Sooners in 2021 and earned National Player of the Year and National Freshman of the Year honors, respectively.

The coach says that the player development side including building long-lasting relationships is something he’s really enjoyed in his more than 25 years of work in softball.

“I’m proud of the work that goes into teaching people how to do things right,” he begins, “how to act properly and control themselves so they reach the goals they and we set for them. We all want to win but it’s the quality of people that you produce is what is the difference maker.”

When asked what accomplishment means the most to him, Coach Stith says it was winning a championship in 2014 that stands out. “I had been with Gary Haning (the legendary founder of the OC Batbusters) for several years and when he stepped away, there was naturally concern about how the team would do. I remember that after that championship I shook his hand and said:

‘The Batbusters will never be on bottom, we will always play at the highest levels.” It was important for him to hear that from me and for me to have won knowing that Gary could be assured his program would be taken care of.”

And his coaching peers admire and respect how Stith has continued that high bar of success.

“With Mike Stith,” says one Top 50 coach, “kids get better and they love him. He develops them at all ages and is always in the hunt to be one of the best teams. The kids he sends off to college play and contribute, usually right away! He has the respect of other coaches, both travel ball and college. After taking over from a legend (Gary Haning)—not an easy thing to do— Mike has kept them at the top of the game without missing a beat.  He respects everyone he plays and is never stingy about answers when others seek his advice.”

Jason Pantages, who coaches in the Firecrackers program, has an interesting perspective:

“I played high school football for Mike so he had a big impact on me in my formative years.  Mike’s players are as mentally tough as any players out there and they do extremely well at the next level.  If you can play for Mike, you can play for anyone.”

David McCorkle in the Texas Bombers org says:

“Mike has helped advance this sport by being an advocate of the sport and help younger coaches.  He and Tony Rico have led the charge to improve fastpitch softball, and I am grateful that they have allowed coaches outside of their clubs to grow and learn to help.”

Finally, Kevin Shelton, the founder of the Texas Glory organization and himself a top club coach, puts it succinctly and accurately:

“Mike does everything well.”

— Brentt Eads, Extra Inning Softball (Follow on Twitter @ExtraInningSB)

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