Charlotte, NC – The NJCAA and the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association have teamed up with the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) to provide a joint membership initiative for its member colleges. The dual membership enrollment opportunity will begin at the end of May 2020.
Spearheaded by Rock Valley (IL) Head Coach and Athletic Director Darin Monroe, the initiative allows NJCAA Softball Coaches Association members to also receive a NFCA membership paid for by the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association. Monroe currently serves as the NJCAA Softball Coaches Association President and is the NJCAA's representative on the NFCA Board of Directors.
"This agreement is a huge step forward for softball coaches at the NJCAA level," stated Monroe. "NJCAA coaches now have access to online education, mentorship programs, awards and the opportunity to network with coaches at all levels of softball. The NFCA provides so many valuable resources to grow as a coach and ultimately it will have a positive impact on our student-athletes at the NJCAA level."
The collaboration between the two organizations will provide NJCAA softball coaches and student-athletes with exceptional benefits such as NFCA education, awards, events, networking opportunities, and NFCA Convention scholarships. In turn, the NJCAA is making a financial commitment to their softball coaches, which opens the door for the NFCA to assist them in their quest for excellence.
"As an association, we are pleased to provide our coaches and our student-athletes with this avenue of opportunity with the NFCA," stated Dr. Christopher Parker, NJCAA President & CEO. "Partnerships with prominent associations such as the NFCA equip our members with the resources needed to prepare their student-athletes at the highest level. We look forward to the continued growth between both organizations."
NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman praised the work done between both organizations. "I would like to thank the NJCAA for making a huge commitment to their softball coaches by offering a membership to our Association," said Bruggeman. "Everyone wins with this new initiative. NJCAA coaches will have access to all NFCA benefits and the NJCAA will be helping grow the sport of softball. Special thanks to Darin Monroe for his efforts in bringing this initiative to life."
The NJCAA and NFCA agreement becomes the second agreement of its kind in recent years following the NJCAA and American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) joint effort in 2018.
About the NFCA
Established in 1983, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) is the professional growth organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all competitive levels of play. Although collegiate coaches comprised the majority of the organization's membership in the early days, today they are joined by high school, travel ball, professional and international coaches, along with umpires, clubs, companies and fans of fastpitch softball. Growing from 40 members in 1983 to over 5,700 today, the NFCA boasts members from all 50 states and several international countries.