Kissimmee, FL-March 25, 2015–The USSSA Florida Pride have named Mike Davenport as head coach for the 2015 National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) season. Davenport, who is currently the head coach at the University of North Georgia (UNG), was an assistant coach on the Pride’s 2014 NPF championship team. He helped lead the team to a 36-16 overall record and their third Cowles Cup Championship.
“I am extremely honored and humbled to help lead this group of women and to remain a part of the USSSA Pride organization,” state Davenport. “I am excited to have the opportunity once again to work with some of the best softball players in the world and alongside another great coaching staff. I am very thankful to Don DeDonatis and Gordon Glennie for the opportunity to work with the USSSA Pride, which is highly recognized in the world of fastpitch softball. I look forward to representing the organization again,” said Davenport.
Davenport is in his 15th season as at the helm of the UNG softball program. The Nighthawk skipper has coached 16 All-Americans and has been named Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year on four separate occasions, including the 2014 season. In 2010, Davenport led UNG to a 51-game winning streak, the second longest in collegiate softball history. The Nighthawks entered the College World Series with a perfect record of 50-0 that season. UNG has reached perfection in conference play twice under the guidance of Davenport, posting 20-0 records in 2003 and 2010.
A native of DuQuoin, Illinois and a 1994 graduate of the University of Florida, Davenport has built a culture of championships at UNG winning eight conference titles, seven conference tournament titles, three regional championships and three trips to the NCAA Division II Championship. Davenport has recorded an overall record of 610-187 (.765) during his tenure at UNG.
“We are looking forward to Mike returning to our staff as the head coach. He’s very familiar with our players and our organization having coached last year. He has a wealth of experience in the head coaching position and does a very good job managing players and the game,” said Pride General Manager Don DeDonatis.
During the 2014 NPF season, Davenport served as an assistant coach working with the hitters and defense as well as helping manage practice. He helped lead the Pride to their third regular season title and their third Cowles Cup in the NPF Championship Series. The 2014 Pride team also garnered individual player awards including Andrea Duran as the 2014 NPF Player of the Year, Cat Osterman as the NPF Pitcher of the Year, and Madison Shipman as the NPF Rookie of the Year.
Davenport and the Pride will begin play on June 6th when they take on the Dallas Charge, the NPF’s newest expansion team, in McKinney, TX. The Pride will be looking to capture their fourth NPF regular season and fourth NPF Championship series title in 2015. Despite the retirement of veterans Caitlin Lowe and Danielle Lawrie, the Pride have continued to reload their explosive lineup with the additions of pitchers Hannah Rogers and Andi Williamson and former NPF Most Outstanding Player Megan Wiggins.
About USSSA Florida Pride:
The USSSA Florida Pride is a professional franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch League that is owned and operated by USSSA. The amateur organization of USSSA has multi-sport coverage and encompasses teams and players from the United States and abroad.
About NPF:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, TN. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
About USSSA:
USSSA is headquartered in Osceola County, Florida. USSSA is the World’s largest Multi-sport Athletic Organization. Founded in 1968, USSSA has grown to over 3.7 million participants, competing in 13 nationally sanctioned sports including Baseball, Fastpitch, Slow Pitch, Karate, Basketball, Soccer and more! For more information on USSSA and to register your team visit USSSA.com. Also be sure to visit USSSAToday.com for the latest USSSA News!