June 20, 2002
St. Mary’s University head coach Donna Fields and
graduate assistant coach Jessica Peoples have been named the 2002
Speedline/NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year.
Fields and Peoples guided St. Mary’s to the 2002 NCAA Division II national
championship in the Rattlers’ first-ever appearance in the national finals
and in only the school’s third year in Division II. St. Mary’s posted a
58-11 record and finished the season with 26 wins in its final 28 games.
Pitcher/first baseman Kym Kling was named Most Valuable Player of the
Division II national championship, and Kling and shortstop Natalie Hill
were both selected as first team All-Americans.
The St. Mary’s staff was selected by its peers as the Speedline Division II
South Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year and was then placed on the
national coaching staff of the year ballot. They will be recognized as the
2002 Speedline/NFCA Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year at the
NFCA National Convention in St. Petersburg, Florida, in December.