LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced that University of Redlands Softball Head Coach Jose Ortega and assistants Kaitlyn Hooper-Bell, Andrew Aguilera, and Cassandra Mittman have been voted the 2026 ATEC/NFCA NCAA Division III National Coaching Staff of the Year (CSOTY).

The Bulldogs' staff wins the award after taking home their first NCAA Division III Softball National Championship in only their second Women's College World Series (WCWS) appearance earlier this month.

Redlands won a program record 48 games with a record 30-game winning streak. During their championship run, they won 10-of-12 games including their final seven, which included a perfect 5-0 record at the WCWS.

During the season the team set the program record for team batting average (.380), hits (557), runs batted in (345), doubles (108), tied for triples (21), runs scored (391), and putouts (1,035).

Nationally they finished third in batting average, fifth in double plays (23), fourth in doubles, first in hits, ninth in on-base percentage (.440), sixth in RBI's, fifth in total runs scored, and third in sacrifice flies (27).

The Bulldogs made the ballot thanks to winning the national championship as each region CSOTY makes it along with the national championship staff if they were not already on it.