You are correct - the summer teams were there before, the parents (if you consider Seiter, Peddicord, et al) as "the parents" were there before, but the amount of success in the summer and fall teams as well as the come togetherness for a long extended period of time did not happen until Meier arrived. This has been moving consistently forward for 3 years and will continue because of the successful foundation and new found love of the sport by a group of young and talented sophomore class who have their dads behind them. I'm just a parent that liked the way we were all working together and moving forward. Don't need an explanation from Kim but don't understand how this made NDA better, especially now that there are two Stephensons (and parents) coaching at NDA. Don't like the parent coaching at the high school level, especially competitively at the high school level and definitely not at NDA. NDA has too many politics going on to and the school starts with their advertisement of sports - starting with volleyball, then soccer, etc...again, one must only look in the entrance hallway to see the celebrations - athletics first, then academics - though YES I DO RECOGNIZE NDA SELLS JUST THE OPPOSITE - it's just the preception when you walk in the lobby. From my seat, right behind the home plate, this coaching move was calculated to settle the upcoming issues that were going to have to be dealt with when it came to club volleyball playing for Matt Long, the Varsity Asst Volleyball coach, and NDA softball. You only need to look at the number one pitcher from last year - she will either be removed or passed up going forward unless they allow volleyball to dictate the rules of engagement for play NDA softball. If you don't take my word for it, ask any of the current sophomore parents.

Just to add my two cents on the NDA coach (maybe I shouldn't!) I really don't know him but I know several people that know the game of softball and kids have played for his summer team in the past and they have nothing good to say about his coaching at all. The reason I bring that up is I am sure the guy did a good job getting the field together up there but by no means are they losing a top tier coach. That being said I am not sure he deserved to be let go as there are some really bad coaches in this area. As far NDA having it tough bc softball in the 5th 6th or 7th sport in most cases I would say it is the same at every school even Ryle. Ryle has better athletes playing soccer, basktball and volleyball they just always have found a stud pitcher to go along with some good players.

 

On a side note hopefully we will see how much coaching really does help. IMO Beechwood had by far the best coach in the area last year (their asstand I don't know her name but she played at Northwestern) and there head coach isn't bad either. They had a tough year still but I think they were much improved. If she stayed around and helped those girls out in the summer and winter my guess is Beechwood could be a sleeper even though they are towards the bottom of the area with talent.

Just out of Curiosity, could someone give me a list of "Experienced High School Softball Coaches" that are available in Northern Kentucky? If that was one of the qualifications ND was looking for they would have had a tough time filling the position. Good luck to Coach Stevenson, if anyone has seen the facilities recently they know that Notre Dame is certainly trying.

 

The new coach's name is Joe Stephenson. I spelled his last name wrong in my original post. I do not know him but I have seen him coach his summer team and it seems like he knows the game and how to coach girls. He is also one of the many parents that is investing a HUGE amount of time on working on the softball complex. It seems to me that NDA is willing to spend the money as long as the parents and players are willing to supply the labor. They have a plan that calls for big money and so far NDA has stepped up. I am not talking about a couple thousand dollars. Maybe, "if you build it, they will come". My daughter isn't even in high school yet but we are excited about the direction things are going at NDA.:thumb:

Just to add my two cents on the NDA coach (maybe I shouldn't!) I really don't know him but I know several people that know the game of softball and kids have played for his summer team in the past and they have nothing good to say about his coaching at all. The reason I bring that up is I am sure the guy did a good job getting the field together up there but by no means are they losing a top tier coach. That being said I am not sure he deserved to be let go as there are some really bad coaches in this area. As far NDA having it tough bc softball in the 5th 6th or 7th sport in most cases I would say it is the same at every school even Ryle. Ryle has better athletes playing soccer, basktball and volleyball they just always have found a stud pitcher to go along with some good players.

 

On a side note hopefully we will see how much coaching really does help. IMO Beechwood had by far the best coach in the area last year (their asstand I don't know her name but she played at Northwestern) and there head coach isn't bad either. They had a tough year still but I think they were much improved. If she stayed around and helped those girls out in the summer and winter my guess is Beechwood could be a sleeper even though they are towards the bottom of the area with talent.

 

Versus that great coaching your receiving at HC??? Name on coach in NKY that is a "top tier" - and remember lucking into dominant pitching does not count. Who actually has built programs?

Versus that great coaching your receiving at HC??? Name on coach in NKY that is a "top tier" - and remember lucking into dominant pitching does not count. Who actually has built programs?

 

If you read the comment I stated there are many bad coaches in the area. There are alot including HC's that should be fired before the ND coach but by no means is he a top tier coach so I think ND will be fine. I still say ND had a better team before he got there so I am not sure how much of a program he has built. ND has a long way to go before they will be a contender for the 9th region title.