This week, Chillicothe (Mo.) and Guthrie (Okla.) High Schools were selected by their peers as the 2025 ATEC/NFCA Summer/Fall High School Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honorees, the Association announced on Tuesday afternoon.

Representing the six states that compete in either the summer or fall, Chillicothe (Region I) and Guthrie (Region II) were chosen in a vote of NFCA member coaches in their respective region.

Those two winners are now eligible — along with the spring honorees from Regions III through X, who will be revealed on July 24, 2026 — for the ATEC/NFCA High School National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced on Aug. 7, 2026.

To be eligible for Regional Coaching Staff of the Year recognition, a school’s head coach must be an NFCA member and nominated.

Five states — Colorado, Georgia, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Missouri — play a fall fastpitch schedule, while Iowa completes in the summer. The high schools in the other eight regions play in the spring.

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Regional Winners

Region I — Chillicothe (Mo.)

Head Coach: Lee Rucker
Assistant Coach: Canaan Fairley

The Missouri Class 3 state champion went 29-7 and finished second in the Greater Kansas City Tournament, losing only to Class 5 Lee’s Summit.

The Hornets won the MEC conference and then went on to beat four teams that were ranked in the top 10 on their way to the first state title by a female team in school history.

The season was filled with challenges due to injuries, yet the staff of two for a team of 26 kept things consistent throughout and still achieved their goals.

Region II — Guthrie (Okla.)

Head Coach: Kara Tarrant
Assistant Coach: Ron Gillett

Guthrie is a low-income community (Title I school) that receives federal funds to bridge gaps and continues to have many challenges before it even gets onto the field, and this year was no different.

Despite that, the Bluejays made the state tournament for a fifth straight season, taking a 16-16-1 record into their playoff game, a loss against three-time titlist and 2024 Class 5A champion Pryor.

“We are a large school but only have two coaches,” head coach Kara Tarrant explained.

“We do everything; practice, hitting, pitching, fielding, workouts, game-day field prep and ALL field maintenance. We don’t have what other schools have in our classification. Most schools have at least four coaches. I have been at the school for 14 years and we rarely have extra help.”

“Luckily, we have great parents to organize concession, senior night, banquets and the like. I do all dirt and grass upkeep throughout the summer, too. No strength-training coach. We do all exercising schedules. With all the things we lack, our team works hard to be the best we can.”

“The coaches, players, and parents to make the program a success. I pulled my assistant from retirement. He is wonderful addition and three years ago was my junior high head coach.”

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The NFCA is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Learn more about the NFCA and its lineup of over 7,000 coaches by clicking HERE.