Off the Field: OnDeck Softball’s Derek Allister Receives NFCA Melinda Fischer Distinguished Award (October 30, 2025)

This is Brentt Eads of Line Drive Softball.

When the news came out today that Derek Allister was awarded the Melinda Fischer Distinguished Service Award, I couldn’t have been happier.

I’ve known Derek and his wife Joann for nearly 20 years and they have done so much for our sport.

I’ve been to his camps and seen the value they bring and I’ve been in multiple conversations with him where I came away impressed with his knowledge and passion for softball. .

 The Allisters are a wonderful family and it’s my privilege to have gotten to know and work with them over the years.

Congrats, Derek, for an honor well deserved.

*****

OnDeck Softball founder Derek Allister is the recipient of the NFCA’s prestigious Melinda Fischer Distinguished Service Award announced earlier today.

Allister was amongst his family when NFCA CEO Carol Bruggeman surprised him with the award announcement via Zoom prior to the announcement.

In 2001, Allister, along with his wife Joann, founded what started as West Coasts Softball All-Stars and transformed into OnDeck Softball (2007), a large-scale recruiting service hosting events across the country.

It evolved from one camp in Seattle (2004) to going nationwide in 2012 and growing years after that.

If that wasn’t enough, Allister created OnDeck Measurements (ODM) along with the Allister Index (proprietary algorithm using individual scores).

🚨 AWARD ALERT: Congratulations to @ondecksoftball founder Derek Allister, the 2025 recipient of the Melinda Fischer Distinguished Service Award! 🥎

🔗 https://t.co/1hk0wbc5OE pic.twitter.com/dj4frhLQH5

— National Fastpitch Coaches Association (@NFCAorg) October 30, 2025

Working with his son KJ and longtime friend Kevin Hennessee, Allister’s labor of love was born. The trio built a set of objective athletic tests that would give a player a snapshot of their softball athleticism.

To this day, ODM is the recognized authority in objective measurables.

Individual objective scores and the corresponding Allister Index (AI) have become the most important objective statistical measurements in player assessment, self-evaluation, and player development. 

“Derek is a coach at heart,” said Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford, who nominated Allister for the award. 

“He set out to create a platform that athletes from all skill levels could come and be seen by colleges of all levels. He connected the dots for thousands of players and coaches throughout the years.” 

The award, which is named in honor of Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer, recognizes a person who has shown exceptional commitment and dedication to the NFCA and the sport of fastpitch softball.

Allister joins a short but distinguished list, which includes:

• ESPN play-by-play talent Beth Mowins (‘24),
• Executive Director of the Greater Columbus Georgia Sports and Events Council Merri Sherman (‘23),
• ESPN Senior Vice President of Production Meg Aronowitz (’18),
• Former Executive Director of the National Junior College Athletic Association Mary Ellen Leicht (’16),
• former NCAA Secretary-Rules Editor and NFCA Hall of Famer Dee Abrahamson (’07),
• and NFCA Hall of Famer Melinda Fischer (’02). 

 

“He laid down the foundation of what a recruiting combine, camp, etc. looked like way before anyone had ventured down that path,” said Ford. 

“Derek is a trailblazer. He was able to identify and evaluate softball talent and express to the players the different types of opportunities that fit their needs based on their skills, academic wants and experience.”

With the rapid growth of OnDeck Softball, Allister stepped away from his full-time job as a high school English teacher in 2013 to fully focus on the highly-successful business.  At that time, his daughter Heather joined the family business.

With the addition of ODM to every event and the growth of the sport, OnDeck Softball grew more than anyone could have imagined. Working with thousands upon thousands of players and coaches, Allister’s impact on the sport has been tremendous.

To this day, one of his great pleasures is following the progress of so many of those players and coaches.

In 2021, he was named the chairman of the Selection Committee for players and coaches for the USA Softball Junior National Team and continues to seek out ways to make the USA youth program the best it can be.

“Derek is respected by the college community and someone who the youth levels look to and ask for advice,” Ford stated.

“He is a college coach’s best friend, youth player’s best advisor and is continually pushing for us to be better, creating a space in which we think outside of the box. There are very few in our sport that have that type of relationship with both sides. He is an honest man that holds your respect and also demands your integrity.”