Madison College assistant softball coach Mike Bridge has been named the 2019 NJCAA Division II Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and Easton. The WolfPack assistant coach received the national recognition after his ninth season with the program. The winners were nominated by NFCA member coaches and chosen by the NFCA Awards Committee.

"Mike is responsible for a wide variety of duties and works tirelessly to improve our softball program," said head coach Leo Kalinowski. "He has an insatiable passion for the game and is one of the main reasons the softball program has climbed the ladder over the years to become a nationally-ranked team. He is well-respected by players because of his vast knowledge of the game. He tirelessly worked at improving our players in all aspects of the game and his passion for the sport has created a winning environment."

Here's what the NFCA and Easton said about Bridge in their October 8 press release: 

Bridge, who has been on staff for nine years, was instrumental in Madison returning to the NJCAA Division II national tournament for the second year in a row, while totaling 94 victories over two seasons. He is responsible for the pitching staff, slappers and team defense, while also being heavily involved in recruiting. Under his guidance the pitching staff posted a 2.57 ERA and held the opposition to a .220 batting average in 2019. Two of Madison's hurlers earned All-Region IV honors and were both named to the Region IV all-tournament team. 

Bridge joined the WolfPack in 2011 as part of a new staff with Kalinowski, however, the team failed to win a came in their first season. The program improved its win total ever year from that point on and has set the school record for wins five times until posting a 52-win season in 2018. Madison College finished that 2018 campaign by winning its first-ever Region IV title and qualifying for the NJCAA Division II National Tournament. The 2019 season brought a succesful defense of that Region IV title and a second straight trip to Clinton, Mississippi. The WolfPack are 251-183 with Bridge on staff, including a 94-22 mark the past two seasons. Bridge has coached three NJCAA All-Americans, 24 All-Region IV honorees, and 26 All-N4C selections. That group includes the program's first All-American, first N4C Most Valuable Player, and first Region IV Player of the Year.

Prior to Madison College, Bridge, a Madison East High School graduate, helped coach several Madison-area high school programs, led the Kodiak U16 traveling team to the Northern Nationals, and worked as the lead softball instructor at Hitters Sportsplex in Middleton. He currently works as a private softball instructor.



Follow WolfPack softball: Facebook | Twitter