BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball coaches were recognized as the NFCA West Region Staff of the Year following this historic 2024 season.
 
Head coach Sheryl Gilmore, assistant coaches Shearyna Labasan, Leah Francis and Forrest Longanecker, along with support staff Thomas Silberberger (Athletic Trainer) and Jerrod Lee and Damien Fischer (Strength & Conditioning) were instrumental in leading the Vikings to the best season of any team in the history of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.
 
The Vikings completed a historic season in 2024 as the NCAA Division II National Runners-Up, competing in the NCAA Championship Finals in Longwood, Florida. WWU was 52-12 overall while winning the GNAC Postseason Tournament and the West Regional title. Western's record-breaking season included three winning streaks of at least seven games, including a school-record 17 consecutive wins.
 
Western set program records in wins (52), runs scored (304), hits (516), doubles (89), home runs (49), extra-base hits (148), saves (11), complete games (15) and fielding percentage (.970), while ranking 12th in the nation with a 1.86 ERA.
 
WWU was one of eight coaching staffs across the nation to earn the Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award, joining University of Charleston (Atlantic), Augustana University (Central), Wilmington University (East), University of Indianapolis (Midwest), Auburn University at Montgomery (South), University of Texas at Tyler (South Central) and Lenoir-Rhyne University (Southeast). National champion UT Tyler was named the NFCA NCAA II Coaching Staff of the Year.