By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information

Toledo, Ohio---The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has named the Owens Community College softball coaching staff the 2015 East Region Coaching Staff of the Year.

The trio of head coach Marcus Smith, along with assistants Carly Hewitt and Anita Williams, were one of three coaching staffs in the nation to earn the honors along with Phoenix (Ariz.) College and Kankakee (Ill.) Community College.

Following a 4-9 start to the season thanks to a tough spring trip schedule in Florida, Owens won 11 of its next 12 games. The team carried the momentum to an Ohio Community College Athletic Conference (OCCAC) championship. In the postseason, the team breezed through the competition in the Region XII District I tournament to earn the program's third-ever berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II National Tournament. 

At nationals, Owens fell to No. 2 Mississippi Gulf Coast before defeating No. 10 Sauk Valley 22-18 in a thrilling elimination game. After the long battle against Sauk Valley, the team's season ended with a loss to No. 1 Phoenix College.

Owens finished 32-18 overall and 10-2 in OCCAC play.

Phoenix College, which finished 53-12, earned South Region Staff of the Year honors, while NJCAA Division II national champion Kankakee (45-6) was named the NFCA NJCAA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year, while also earning NFCA Midwest Region Staff of the Year honors.