Mount Saint Dominic Academy’s (N.J.) Ashley DeYoung and Jared Adams from NW Vandals Morton 16U (Ore.) are the recipients of the 2025 Easton/NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year award in the high school and travel ball groups.

Each recipient was nominated by NFCA member coaches and selected by a panel of their peers on the NFCA Awards Committee.

*****

Here’s a closer look at each of the honorees:

*** Ashley DeYoung, Mount Saint Dominic Academy (N.J.) – High School

DeYoung has been with the MSDA varsity program since 2018 and serves as the Saints’ assistant head coach and pitching coach.

She played a pivotal role in MSDA capturing the NJCIAA state championship and finishing No. 1 in New Jersey.

After losing two pitchers to injuries prior to the season, DeYoung mentored a freshman pitcher, who won over 20 games.

Head coach Robert Stern applauded DeYoung’s amazing work ethic that was pivotal in the Saints’ Non-Public North A and state titles.

*****

*** Jared Adams, NW Vandals 16U – Morton – Travel Ball

Adams, a respected owner and head coach of an independent travel ball organization in the Pacific Northwest, joined forces with Rick Morton, who also owned and coached an independent organization, at the NW Vandals.

After years of competing against each other, the duo started a new opportunity (together) to help local athletes achieve their goal on a bigger stage.

Making the transition to assistant coach, Adams has been invaluable to Morton (head coach), the athletes and the community with his focus, effort and experience.

On the field, Adams oversees pitch call and catching responsibilities, while he and his family provide an outlet for team-bonding opportunities with a focused effort to ensure both teams come together to grow their connections and focus.

The team moved up from 14U to 16U and competed in PGF and The Alliance qualifiers as well as the Triple Crown Valley Invitationals and World Series.

Morton stated:

“It’s not easy to make a transition for head coach to assistant coach, and while this is an assistant coach award, Jake has been every part head coach and contributor, which I can’t tell you how much I’ve appreciated everything he’s done.

More so than anything, he’s been a huge part of our efforts to provide a better opportunity to the girls in our community to continue their athletic and softball goals.”

*****

DeYoung, Adams and the collegiate recipients will be recognized on Dec. 13 during the NFCA Convention’s Awards Brunch in Las Vegas.