The National Fastpitch Coaches Association has named Blinn College head softball coach Rick Church and assistant coach Jami Ingram as the 2015 Midwest Region coaching staff of the year.
This past year was Church's 16th season at head coach at Blinn and this is the fifth time that Church and Ingram have received this honor. Ingram has been an assistant coach under Church for 11 years and was also a former player for Church. Jaymie Heibel was also an assistant for the Buccaneers for the 2015 season.
"It is just a reflection of the success of the teams," Church said. "You have got to give the credit to the group of girls that you have playing for you that year."
Blinn recently completed its sixth trip to the NJCAA National Tournament under Church after a 45-16 season and 21-3 Region XIV Conference mark.
Blinn opened the national tournament by beating Georgia Perimeter and Chattanooga (Tenn.) State but then dropped consecutive games to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and Howard College.
Blinn will open its 2016 season Jan. 29 when it travels to the Galveston College Tournament.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
About Blinn College
A comprehensive community college committed to educational excellence and to individual and community enhancement, Blinn College has served its 13-county Central Texas region since 1883. With an enrollment of 19,317 students, Blinn ranks among the nation's leaders in transferring students to leading four-year universities and has received national recognition for affordable educational excellence.
Blinn offers job seekers the skills and credentials they need to succeed in the region's fast-growing industries, and partners with local businesses to provide skills development training for incumbent employees. Each year, Blinn programs and students make a $345.3 million impact on the local economy.
For more information about Blinn College and exciting student success initiatives such as Destination Success: First-Year Focus and the Blinn TEAM Program, visit: www.blinn.edu or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
