Head Coach Michael Danley Comments on Tennessee Mojo 2023 Being Named NFCA Travel Ball National Coaching Staff of the Year

On Friday, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced that the six coaches of  the Tennessee Mojo 2023 team, which won the PGF 12U Premier National Championship, was selected as the 2018 NFCA Travel Ball National Coaching Staff of the Year.

We contacted Head Coach Michael Danley for his thoughts on the big honor which recognizes him and assistants Richie Davis, Martin Roman, Brian Sailor and John Hawkes.

Here’s what the coach had to say Friday evening along with photos from the PGF title game…

*****

What a year we have had!

It’s been an amazing season for this team.  I couldn’t be prouder of these girls and this coaching staff.   I received an email Thursday saying, “Congratulations on winning “National Travel Ball Coaching staff of the Year” and I was blown away… I couldn’t stop smiling and I was a little giddy!

Knowing the miles this staff travels and the trust they put into these girls, for them not only to go compete on the big stage at PGF Nationals, but bring home the title was almost a fairy tale come true.

I couldn’t be more excited for this honor that recognizes the hard work and dedication these coaches put in.   I’m truly blessed that they buy in for what I believe and stand for.  It’s liked we have coached together for years.

I had a gentleman that I was talking to about his daughter coming over and playing with us.   His comment was, “You don’t have enough horses to compete at the big stage; you have a team that consists more of a few ponies with a couple horses.

There was some truth in that, but in the end a saying that I found rings so true: “It’s not the team with the best players that wins, it’s the players with the best team that wins.”

This holds so true in our belief that it’s about the kids and how important it is to build them up so they believe in themselves. We want them to have confidence, demonstrate the proper attitude and put forth their best effort.

I’m honored we were chosen by our fellow coaches for this award, it’s one of the biggest honors a coach could have.

Thanks to everyone that believes in what we do.

Michael Danley
Tennessee Mojo 2023