Photo by: Dan Koerner
Softball Earns Fourth NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year Award in Five Years
June 5, 2026 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – After earning 47 victories with the help of eight single-season program records, the Patriot League champion Boston University softball team claimed the ATEC/NFCA Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year award, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Friday afternoon.
The honor marks the third of the year for head coach Ashley Waters, associate head coach Becca Carden and assistant coach Allie Brewster after they were previously recognized by the Patriot League and ECAC. The regional award is also the fourth in five years for a Waters-led staff at BU.
Overall, the NFCA handed out 10 regional awards with BU the lone non-Power 4 program to garner recognition. The Terriers increased their win total from a year prior by eight games and nearly cut the RPI in half from 108 to 57. They also finished the season ranked in the top 100 in 26 statistical categories, highlighted by the nation's seventh-best .443 on-base percentage and the eighth-most 17 shutouts.
During the 2026 campaign, BU upset nationally-ranked and future Super Regional participant Duke on two separate occasions. The Terriers also earned three notable wins against the Big Ten with victories over Maryland, Northwestern and Ohio State. During conference play, they went 16-2 to reclaim the Patriot League regular season title and then swept all three contests as the tournament host to reach the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season.
In the NCAA Lubbock Regional, the Terriers had the go-ahead run at home plate before Ole Miss turned a double play to prevail in the opening game, 8-6. BU bounced back by eliminating MAAC champion Marist in run-rule fashion, 10-2 (5), with a PL record 10 runs in NCAA tournament action. During the rematch against the Rebels, the SEC squad pulled away with a four-run fifth to eliminate the Terriers, 9-4.
Individually, senior and three-time PL Pitcher of the Year Kasey Ricard finished the season atop the NCAA rankings with a BU and conference-record 33 victories while also collecting the most active wins across all three divisions at 107 total, both a school and PL career record.
Named PL Player of the Year for the first time, junior Kylie Doherty shattered both the BU and PL record with the nation's third-most RBIs (89) and fifth-most homers (27), while two-time PL Defensive Player of the Year and senior Brooke Deppiesse touched home plate a BU and PL record 68 times. Both Terriers finished in the top 60 nationally for hits with Doherty (22nd) earning 80 and Deppiesse (58th) collecting 75.
The honor marks the third of the year for head coach Ashley Waters, associate head coach Becca Carden and assistant coach Allie Brewster after they were previously recognized by the Patriot League and ECAC. The regional award is also the fourth in five years for a Waters-led staff at BU.
Overall, the NFCA handed out 10 regional awards with BU the lone non-Power 4 program to garner recognition. The Terriers increased their win total from a year prior by eight games and nearly cut the RPI in half from 108 to 57. They also finished the season ranked in the top 100 in 26 statistical categories, highlighted by the nation's seventh-best .443 on-base percentage and the eighth-most 17 shutouts.
During the 2026 campaign, BU upset nationally-ranked and future Super Regional participant Duke on two separate occasions. The Terriers also earned three notable wins against the Big Ten with victories over Maryland, Northwestern and Ohio State. During conference play, they went 16-2 to reclaim the Patriot League regular season title and then swept all three contests as the tournament host to reach the NCAA tournament for the fourth straight season.
In the NCAA Lubbock Regional, the Terriers had the go-ahead run at home plate before Ole Miss turned a double play to prevail in the opening game, 8-6. BU bounced back by eliminating MAAC champion Marist in run-rule fashion, 10-2 (5), with a PL record 10 runs in NCAA tournament action. During the rematch against the Rebels, the SEC squad pulled away with a four-run fifth to eliminate the Terriers, 9-4.
Individually, senior and three-time PL Pitcher of the Year Kasey Ricard finished the season atop the NCAA rankings with a BU and conference-record 33 victories while also collecting the most active wins across all three divisions at 107 total, both a school and PL career record.
Named PL Player of the Year for the first time, junior Kylie Doherty shattered both the BU and PL record with the nation's third-most RBIs (89) and fifth-most homers (27), while two-time PL Defensive Player of the Year and senior Brooke Deppiesse touched home plate a BU and PL record 68 times. Both Terriers finished in the top 60 nationally for hits with Doherty (22nd) earning 80 and Deppiesse (58th) collecting 75.
Players Mentioned
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