FSU’s Alameda Headlines 2023 NFCA Hall of Fame Class

During its annual convention in San Antonio, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced its 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Florida State head coach Lonni Alameda, Rowan University head coach Kim Wilson, NFCA Executive Director Carol Bruggeman and retired Moravian University head coach John Byrne will be the newest members to join the NFCA Hall of Fame. They will be honored at next year’s convention.

Entering her 15th season as the head coach at FSU, Alameda has guided the Seminoles to the Women’s College World Series four times in the last seven complete seasons, including winning the program’s first NCAA title in 2018. Alameda is 667-189-3 (.778) at FSU. She led the Seminoles to a 54-7 record in 2022, a program-record winning percentage of .885 and her sixth 50-win season. The Seminoles won the ACC Tournament for the program’s 18th conference title.

Wilson, entering her 27th season at Rowan, is one of the winningest all-time coaches in NCAA Division III softball with 901 career victories. She has led the Profs to eight New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships and 18 NCAA tournament appearances, including a third-place national finish. Her 26-year record at Rowan is 836-283-2, while her overall record in 32 years of coaching, which includes six seasons at Washington & Jefferson College, is 901-340-2.

Bryne retired from his alma mater last May after spending the last 29 years as the head coach at Moravian. He is the ninth overall NCAA Division III coach to reach 900 career victories, finishing his career with an overall record of 923-257. The .782 winning percentage ranks as the eighth best in NCAA Division III history. Bryne guided Moravian to the postseason in 27 seasons, including three NCAA Division III Championships appearances and 17 conference championships during his tenure.

Bruggeman has been the Executive Director at the NFCA since 2016, after serving one year in an interim role. She joined the NFCA in 2014 after a long career as an NCAA Division I coach at Michigan, Purdue and Louisville. During her coaching career, Bruggeman has been a part of more than 700 victories. As an infielder at the University of Iowa, Bruggeman was an All-Big Ten and All-Mideast Region selection.

This year’s class – Jenny Allard (Harvard University), Kerri Blaylock (Southern Illinois University Carbondale, ret.), Sandy Montgomery (SIUE, ret.) and Mary Jo Truesdale (Sheldon High School) – was inducted into the Hall of Fame on Friday evening at the JW Marriott San Antonio Resort and Spa.