LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Dec. 8 2023) – Lonni Alameda (Florida State), Carol Bruggeman (NFCA), John Byrne (Moravian, retired) and Kim Wilson (Rowan) were inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame on Friday evening at The Galt House Hotel in downtown Louisville.
Batting leadoff at the NFCA’s premier event, NFCA President Larissa Anderson welcomed those in attendance and kicked the night off by honoring the Hall of Famers in attendance with the NFCA’s traditional Hall of Fame March.
At the conclusion of the event, NFCA Vice President for Awards Courtney Deifel (University of Arkansas) announced the Class of 2024 – former University of Texas head coach Connie Clark, Augustana University head coach Gretta Melsted and University of Florida head coach Tim Walton. This trio will be inducted on Dec. 6, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
For complete bios check out our Hall of Fame page HERE.
Lonni Alameda, who owns over 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, is in her 16th season as Florida State’s head coach. She has guided the Seminoles to a 2018 national championship and national runner-up finishes in 2021 and 2023. Steering the ship of one of the nation’s top teams, Alameda’s resume at FSU includes five Women’s College World Series appearances and nine Super Regionals (eight straight between 2013 and 2021), 10 ACC regular season/division titles and eight ACC Tournament titles in a row.
Carol Bruggeman, who became the NFCA’s permanent Executive Director in 2016, has overseen unprecedented success within the organization. Under her leadership, the Association has experienced exponential growth with new records set in membership, sponsorship, awards, education, and events. Prior to being named Executive Director, Bruggeman was an active coach and NFCA member for nearly three decades. During that time she was elected by her peers and served as Board President, Past-President, Fourth Vice President, and Division I Representative. Recognized as one of Louisville Business First’s Most Admired CEOs in 2022, Bruggeman is a well-respected national speaker, clinician, author, and educator.
Former Moravian University head coach John Byrne retired in May of 2022 after 29 years leading the Greyhound softball program and 44 years at the school. Upon retiring from his alma mater, Byrne was the fifth active and ninth overall NCAA Division III coach to reach 900 career victories, surpassing the milestone on March 2, 2022 with a 2-1 win over No. 11 Milwaukee School of Engineering. He completed his career with a 923-257 overall record (.782) currently ranking him eighth in winning percentage and ninth in victories in NCAA Division III history.
Kim Wilson, one of the winningest all-time coaches in NCAA Division III softball, has won 943 contests in 33 seasons as a Division III head coach. In 27 seasons as Rowan’s head coach, Wilson has compiled an 878-293-2 record, while leading the Profs to eight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships and 19 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a third-place national finish. Wilson’s overall record in 32 years of coaching, which includes six seasons at Washington & Jefferson College, is 943-350-2. Wilson heads into the 2024 season ranked fifth in wins among active Division III coaches and sixth in Division III all-time victories.