Greg Stewart (L), along with Bill Fagan and Ryson Mauricio after winning the 2011 NAIA softball championship. (photo by Kelly Caleb)
Oregon Tech Captures NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year Award
Three weeks after winning the school’s first-ever softball national championship, the coaching staff of Oregon Institute of Technology earned another award Tuesday. Head coach Greg Stewart and assistant coaches Bill Fagan and Ryson Mauricio have been named the 2011 NFCA NAIA National Coaching Staff of the Year.
Oregon Tech defeated top-ranked Cal Baptist to win the NAIA national championship last month in Gulf Shores, Ala. The Hustlin’ Owls won the first tournament matchup of the two heavyweights, 1-0. Cal Baptist fought back through the losers’ bracket and forced a second title game with a 7-0 victory. Again, Oregon Tech was up to the challenge with another thrilling 1-0 victory to claim the 2011 NAIA national title.
Ranked 18th in the final NAIA regular season coaches’ poll, Oregon Tech made the most of only their second-ever appearance in the national championship tournament. The Owls finished the season with a 42-13 overall mark. Oregon Tech won the Cascade Collegiate Conference regular season championship and conference tournament before launching its national title run.
Stewart is 226-107-2 in seven completed seasons as the Oregon Tech head coach. The Oregon Tech staff also earned West Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors, before nabbing the national award.
NFCA Release