James Madison’s Coaching Staff Pegged as NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year
NFCA Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (June 10, 2021) – James Madison’s softball coaching staff was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the association Thursday afternoon.
The Dukes’ coaching staff is comprised of head coach Loren LaPorte, associate head coach Jennifer Herzig, and assistant coach Libby Morris.
LaPorte was tabbed as the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Coach of the Year for the third consecutive season in 2021. James Madison concluded the spring with a 41-4 record after LaPorte guided the Dukes to the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight season.
The Dukes became the first program in CAA history to advance to the Women’s College World Series (WCWS). James Madison went 7-3 during their postseason run to the national semifinals. The Dukes were the first unseeded team in the history of the WCWS to win their first two games in Oklahoma City after defeating No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 5 Oklahoma State.
The Dukes claimed the Knoxville Regional Title with victories over No.25 Liberty (twice) and No. 9 Tennessee before beating No. 8 Missouri 2-1 in the Columbia Super Regional.
James Madison cruised through the regular season finishing 32-1 with a 17-1 CAA conference record. The Dukes went on to win the CAA Tournament for the second straight season outscoring their opponent 32-0 in three tournament games.
Representing each of the NFCA’s 10 Division I regions, these respective coaching staffs – University of Oklahoma, University of Michigan, Virginia Tech, Miami University, South Dakota State University, James Madison University, University of Washington, University of Arkansas, Duke University and UCLA – garnered Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
These 10 programs are eligible for the NFCA’s Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on June 24.