With that being said, I started by initial post by asking who voted on these awards, trying to gain clarification on what exactly was use to determine the players and coach that were selected. I knew going into it that nobody from USSSA would actually take the time to reply and help me understand, but none the less I wanted to give them the opportunity to do so.
I would think the vast majority of the softball community, unless you played on that team, have no idea how most of the coaches/managers/sponsors out there impact the guys that play for them. I would also think that the majority of people have no idea what those same coaches/managers/sponsors do off the field to impact the community, etc around them. Ive never had the chance to play you or the Dirtbaggers, but I have had the chance to play Carolina Merchants on numerous occasions and have been left with nothing but positive experiences from how they played the game and the overall class acts that the team and coaches were.
Im sure your team wasnt the only group of guys that faced obstacles throughout the year. Im sure plenty other teams had injuries and lost guys week to week and throughout the year due to non softball related life occurrences. Congrats for being able to rally your troops and keep them together as you faced this adversity and as a result have a solid season together.
I do feel however, without having a full understanding of what all determined this award, who voted on the award, etc that the only thing that can fairly be used to measure who the 'coach of the year' was, is the numbers that I mentioned in my initial post. The W-L records and the overall success that the teams had throughout the year. Sure, Bruce Arians was named the NFL coach of the year and they didnt have the best record or win a playoff game, but they did compete in the toughest division in the NFL, did have the best record for the majority of the year and did so most of which without having their starting QB. To say they just gave it to the guy who had the best character and who kept their team together the best is kind of misleading, as the Cardinals had a great deal of success throughout the year. Not to mention this is slow pitch softball that we all play for fun and recreation, not the NFL where people are making a living.
None the less, congrats to you for another winning season in E and taking home such a coveted award. My posting this initially was in no way trying to take that away from you or put you or your guys down in anyway. I noticed that you are registered in NC to play E again this year and I hope that is just a mistake. 145-87 record over the past 4 years, .625 winning percentage, 8 tournament championships in 50 tournaments entered shows me that you are more than capable of competing at a higher level and hopefully you along with other teams out there will take the initiative yourselves to play at a higher level since we all know the directors arent going to do their part to make sure this takes place.
Thanks again for a well written and well thought out reply. Congrats on being named the 2014 NC USSSA Coach of the Year and most of all, best of luck in the 2015 season.
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