What a span of 10 months it’s been for one of the top club coaches (Suzy Willemssen) and top travel programs (the Virginia Glory) in fastpitch softball over the last two decades.

The Virginia Glory 18U travel ball team was voted by its peers as the 2026 ATEC/NFCA Travel Ball National Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Under the direction of head coach and NFCA Hall of Famer Suzy Willemssen and assistant coach Kevin Bednoski, the Virginia Glory 18U team capped off a successful season with a Tier II national championship at The Alliance Fastpitch Championship Series.

This summer, the Virginia Glory 18U team competed against elite national competition, collecting quality wins at Top Gun KC, Triple Crown P4, the Alliance Super Cup, and the Triple Crown National Power Pool at the Colorado Sparkler.

Last December, Coach Suzy was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame—the details of which can be read about in the article published on Line Drive Media titled NFCA Convention News: The Impactful Legacy of Virginia Glory Founder Suzy Willemssen, Who’s Being Inducted into the 2025 NFCA Hall of Fame Class Tonight (December 12, 2025)

Coach Willemssen has been an impressive difference maker on and off the field, with a total of over 1,300 victories in high school and club coaching combined as well as more than $600,000 raised in cancer research.

That commitment to service was once again on display as the program raised more than $50,000 for Children’s Hospital this year, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to charity.

“Competing, Development, College Fit, Servant Leadership, and Giving Back” are the cornerstones which the Glory strive to achieve every day, which includes developing players to reach their potential, helping athletes find college opportunities that are the right fit academically and athletically, and teaching them to use softball to make an impact on others.

Coach Kevin—who has been with the Glory organization for about a decade and with Suzy and the 18U team for seven years—has also been vital in the team’s success, although he is quick to give credit to the players and their head coach.

“This recognition is really about our players,” he says.

“Their commitment, competitiveness and willingness to put in the work every day are what make everything we do so rewarding and having the opportunity to share that journey alongside Hall of Fame coach, friend and mentor Suzy Willemssen makes it even more meaningful!”

“And a sincere thanks to the NFCA for recognizing our players, program and staff.”

Coaches Willemssen and Bednoski, as well as other members on the team’s staff, will be recognized at the NFCA Awards Brunch on Dec. 12 at the 2026 NFCA Convention in Atlantic City, N.J.

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Regional Travel Ball Coaching Staffs of the Year (2026)

A representative of Region III, Virginia Glory was joined by the following programs as Travel Ball Regional Coaching Staff of the Year recipients:

• South Shore Patriots 14U (Region I)
• Pennsbury Gems 14U Elite (Region II)
• Top Gun 18 National (Region IV)
• Indiana Magic Gold 2032 Futures – DuPlessis (Region V)
• Texas Glory (Region VI)
• Firecrackers Illinois – Ring 14U (Region VII)
• Bronco Select 18U Black (Region VIII)
• Lady Magic (Region IX)
• NW Vandals Morton (Region X)

*** Our thanks to the NFCA and Virginia Glory for the information and photos used in this article.