Exactly seven years ago to the day, StudentSportsSoftball.com published a list of “The 10 Most Influential People in Softball,” which we ran again this week.

After a month of research and reaching out to over 500 college and club coaches, media members, event producers and organization administrators, we revisit the question and again ask those in softball who they think are the most influential in the sport, from little girls just starting to play to the highest levels of pro (NPF) competition.

Those surveyed were contacted via e-mail and personal phone calls and were allowed to nominate up to five candidates.  Below, based on order of most votes received, are those who are recognized for their prominence in softball with comments included from those who nominated them.

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1. Sue Enquist: Hall of Fame coach, business owner, board member
Her 27 year career as the UCLA Head Coach—which included 11 National Championships—could be reason alone for Enquist to be an influence in softball, but that’s only half of the story.  The legendary former coach might be more active and visible today than when she retired in 2006—she’s a highly sought-after motivational speaker but she’s also engaged in trying to bring together the key organizations in the sport—ASA, Premier Girls Fastpitch, Triple Crown Sports and USSSA—to create cohesiveness in softball.  Sue is also very active with the NFCA and NCSA companies to bring standardization in testing, as one example.

Why others are saying:

• “Even though she is retired, Sue has shown many of us how to coach and inspire athletes. When you listen to her speak, you feel that you can coach anyone! When she speaks, people listen!” – East Coast club coach
• “She’s really working to get standardization done right in softball.” – California club coach
• “Sue is still the matriarch of the sport and rallying college coaches behind her.  She’s a good human being and everything I care about she champions.” – Florida coach
• “Sue might be the smartest person I’ve ever met and she has a passion like no one else.  If I have to go to war, she’s in my foxhole for sure.” – Big Ten college coach

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2. Jennie Finch: NCAA champion, Olympian, pro player, broadcaster, spokesperson
Simply put, Jennie Finch is the most famous softball player of all time to the rest of the sporting world.  Her success on the field at every level—multiple NCAA championships, record breaking pitching performances, Olympic Gold Medals—combined with beauty and grace made her a celebrity who transcended the sport.  But what really has elevated her status within the softball community was her passionate efforts to get softball back in the Olympics; when that failed, she tweeted to her 125k+ followers: “Devasted over the IOC’s decision” and later “Why we will keep fighting- For millions of girls’ dreams to come true again!”  That level of involvement—plus the fact she’s tweated over 8,000 times, has won her the respect of not only coaches and administrators in softball, but a new generation of younger fans.

Why others are saying:

• “Jennie is an icon, she will continue to be the most recognizable face the sport of fastpitch has for years to come, even after retirement. She is the reason many little girls pick up a softball. What fastpitch player does not have a “Dream and Believe” hairband in their collection?” – national media member
• “As a player Jennie helped make softball popular because she is a great role model for young women. She is still the public face of softball.” – Maryland club coach
• “She covers the full spectrum, from the left side to the right side. Her performance over time has transformed the game, affecting the young girl and the girls’ parents as a player and as one bringing exposure at every level including pro and internationally.” – Pac-12 college coach
• “Jennie is obviously the face of softball for the last several years. She is pretty, won NCAA titles as well as Gold Medals in the Olympics.” New Jersey high school coach

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3. Dan Hay: President & CEO of Premier Girls Fastpitch (“PGF”)
Four years ago, before the creation of Premier Girls Fastpitch, Dan Hay was most known as being the key provider of fields for softball events in his hometown of Huntington Beach, Calif. Today, he’s known as one of the biggest driving forces in club softball.  Hay, who’s also an active high school and club coach, had a background in insurance and used that business acumen to take the ideas of noted club coaches now on the PGF board, most notably Gary, and create club national championships that have become known for having almost all the top teams in the country at all age levels.  But that’s not all: Dan has been the driving force in taking the PGF brand across the country and standardizing regional and local PGF qualifiers and tournaments.

Why others are saying:

• “I think PGF has immensely changed softball for the better.  We went to ASA and they weren’t listening and one day Dan Hay and PGF explained their ideas and I said ‘I’m in, I got your back, tell me where to be, I’m in.’  What they’ve done in a short time and how they’ve grown the sport is incredible.” – SEC college coach
• “For people at my level, the PGF has been phenomenal. They continue to innovate, like putting 18’s and 12’s together and 14’s and 16’s together at events so we as college coaches can see them all.  That’s cutting edge.” – Big Ten college coach
• “PGF is now the top club tournament and event producer in the country, it’s not even close. What Dan Hay has done to bring a positive corporate feel to the sport, like the opening ceremonies at their national championships, is a difference maker.” – West Coast club coach

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4. Dave King: CEO and Founder of Triple Crown Sports (“TCS”)
It can be argued that no one in softball knows the events world better than Dave King, a Harvard Business School grad who not only produces softball events, but has a background in basketball, producing NCAA college hoop tournaments like the WNIT.  What isn’t as well known about TCS is the Fort Collins, Colo-based company employs 55 full-time employees and produces 250 national events in baseball, basketball, volleyball and even drift racing across the U.S. and Canada.  TCS has several highly-visible softball tournaments including the Triple Crown Nationals, the Colorado Fireworks and Aurora tournaments and the TCS Rising Stars events in Florida which, like many TCS events, are televised and streamed on the CBS Sports Networks.  TCS also produces club rankings which generate a lot of discussion.

Why others are saying:

• “Dave King does events right, he’s bringing softball to a larger audience and through their TV presence and affiliations can take softball to a more visible level which can only help the sport grow.” – California club coach
• “Dave is trying and succeeding in revolutionizing the sport with his rankings, his events and his desire to expand.  He has brought a unique perspective and format to softball—making his events vacation/softball events but also incorporating an interesting competitive format that crowns champions. “ – softball event producer
• “King has brought a level of competition to help travel ball get to the next level. He puts dollars into it and does it right.  Triple Crown does travel ball as well as anybody else in this space.” – Big 12 college coach

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5. Tony Rico: Head Coach of the Firecrackers, instructor, speaker
Tony Rico has won national championships at the club level and, by any measure has been one of the most successful club coaches over the last decade, but it’s not just that he’s helped developed noted players like Ashley Hansen and Lauren Chamberlain.  What has made Rico one of the pre-eminent forces in baseball is his philosophies of self-empowerment in building up young women who play softball.  Based in Huntington Beach, Calif., Tony has a 6,000 square foot workout facility that doubles as a comfortable social meeting place for his players and coaches.  Promoting his “Play With Honor” brand, Rico’s brand has attracted dozens of teams in other states as well and today there are Firecrackers teams in Arizona, California and Texas.

Why others are saying:

• “Tony’s a coaching legend who does things the right way.  The interesting thing about him is most all of the opposing coaches sing his praises also.”— New Jersey club coach.
• “Tony’s a mover and shaker in the game.  As a college coach, I know his players will have the mental and emotional toughness to compete and will be able to withstand the stresses that come on and off the field at the collegiate level.”— ACC college coach
• “Rico is a class act, a great speaker and someone coaches can learn from because he’s done a lot in the game.  He instills values and self-esteem in his girls and they carry themselves in a way that you know they’ll be successful people long after they’re done playing softball.”

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6. Gary Haning: Head Coach, OC Batbusters, PGF board member
Gary Haning not only is a legendary coach who has been at the helm of the OC Batbusters for 30 years and done everything possible—from winning championships to producing Olympic talent—he’s also one of the driving forces behind PGF.  Haning has the respect of the softball world for his accomplishments on and off the field and was one of, if not the first, to produce large-scale tournaments and showcases under the Surf City Tourneys umbrella.  This year, for example, there will be 13 tourneys drawing top teams from every part of the country.  A tall, imposing figure who’s smart and insightful, Haning has merged his flagship Batbusters team with Mike Stith and Mizuno to ensure the name he built to phenomenal success and respect will continue long after he steps down from coaching.

Why others are saying:

• “There’s Gary and then there’s everyone else in club softball.  He has set the standard with his Batbusters success and brand.  When it comes to coaching in our sport, he is truly a living legend.” – national media member
• “Gary is obviously one of the greatest coaches ever in our sport, but I will always remember his tournaments for being the top large-scale events, not only in terms of quantity of elite teams but also quality teams.  I’ve always looked forward to going there because I know we’ll get better playing the best.” – Texas club coach
• “If anything, I think Gary’s legend will include being the first high-profile coach to step up and say, ‘We don’t like the way things are being done and we want an alternative.’  I’m not sure anyone else could or would have had the respect of his peers to get top teams to go follow and create an alternative national championship.” – SEC college coach

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7. Mike Candrea – Univ. of Arizona
Not long ago, Mike Candrea was the most visible coach in softball not only because he led the Olympic team to a Gold Medal in 2004, but also because he won eight NCAA Women’s College World Series titles in 17 years.  Because of Candrea, Arizona has the second most number of title game appearances (beyond only UCLA).  Arizona is still one of the top programs in the country and Candrea, a four-time National Coach of the Year, has become renowned for his camps and coaches clinics, imparting his vast knowledge of what it takes to succeed in softball gleaned from decades in collegiate and internal experience.

Why others are saying:

• “Coach Candrea is still influential and relevant to the sport, with or without the Olympics.  His knowledge and expertise on the technical and skill level is amazing and to sit down and listen to him teach you realize he’s forgotten more about softball than I’ll ever learn.” – Midwest club coach
• “Candrea is the best coach to coach this game at the international level and collegiate level. He has taken our sport to another level and has helped so many coaches understand what it takes to be a better all around coach. He understands how to get the best out of a female. Mike in my opinion can take an average hitter and make her a great hitter. He knows how to develop players.” – Northwest club coach
• “I’ve always enjoyed playing against Candrea coached teams because I know we have to be at our best because he’s the best.  He makes me have to elevate my coaching and for that I think he’s still influential, influential on coaches and certainly influential in the knowledge he imparts to those who play with or against him.”  West Coast college coach

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8. Derek & Joann Allister – OnDeck Softball
You’ll be hard-pressed to find more likeable and well-liked people in the softball community than Derek and Joann Allister.  Coming from a basketball background where Derek coached 17 years at the D-I level and from Joann’s experience as a D-I softball coach, they created a basketball-influenced scouting service called the Allister Report over 20 years ago.  In time, that would evolve into the first large-scale invitational evaluation camps that today are the paradigm in softball.  Players know that if they’re invited to an OnDeck Softball event it can launch their recruiting status.  Coaches know that if they attend one of the national camps or the five regional Jamborees, they’ll see quality athletes and have a “one-stop shopping” experience.

Why others are saying:

• “The Allisters have performed over time in creating an objective environment to evaluate talent.  They’ve accomplished their mission in doing something that had not been done before and maintained it all with integrity.” – Big Ten coach
• “We went to the Colorado Jamboree last year (2012) and the talent was unbelievable and saved us in time and money from having to run all over the country when the players we needed and wanted were at their event.  But all their events are like that.” – ACC college coach
• “Our club isn’t in a high profile area where coaches come a lot so we have to go to California and Florida and other places to be seen.  What’s helped some of our key players is going to the OnDeck events.  I’ve seen it be one of the best tools in recruiting and other coaches I’ve talked to agree.”  – Midwest club coach
  

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9. Lisa Fernandez: NCAA champion, Olympian, pro player, current UCLA asst. coach
It’s been over 20 years since Lisa Fernandez’s college career ended, but her domination while at UCLA and her subsequent international successes are still resonating with the softball world.  Fernandez has won every team and individual award possible and, like Jennie Finch today, was able to be recognized as a sports figure internationally.  She played professionally and is now an assistant at her alma mater, UCLA, where she was a four-time All-American and won two National Championships.

Why others are saying:

• “Lisa Fernandez is, in my opinion, Mrs. Softball. She was one of the best ever to play the game and did it in an era when we needed an icon like her to make our sport recognized. Lisa made little girls want to be like her which in return blossomed our sport at the younger age groups thus helping make it is what it is today.” – Northwest club coach
• “Lisa is the best softball player ever to play the game. Pitching, hitting, fielding—she did it all and was the best at what she did. She loves the sport like no other person I know and she respects the game and is involved still in the sport.” – national media member
• “I don’t think softball would be where it is today if not for Lisa Fernandez.  She was the first to make it so girls wanted to be in the sport.  She was a role model, a competitor who showed it’s OK for girls to get dirt on their hands in the name of winning.  Lisa made softball cool.” – East Coast college coach

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10. Bill Conroy: Founder of the Beverly Bandits, PGF board member
If there’s a surprise in this list, it’s probably Bill Conroy who is most well known for having owned the Chicago Bandits NPF team from 2006 to 2008 and won a championship there as well as running the highly successful Beverly Bandits club program that has won at every level including the 16U PGF National Championship this summer.  But if you dive deeper you’ll see that Conroy has been successful at pretty much everything he’s done and is widely respected as a businessman and for investing in softball, particularly the young girls he coaches and spends so much time working with.  For example, 42 players within the Bandits organization today have committed to colleges nationwide.

Why others are saying:

• “No other single individual outside of California has made the strides he has with his program in regards to creating a product that competes and beats SoCal softball powers.” – national event producer
• “Bill has invested heavily, both in time and money, to develop softball in the Midwest and he’s had national success.  It’s a model I wish more who are involved in the sport would follow.” – Midwest college coach
• “It’s no surprise Conroy has players who come from all over the country to play for him.  His players and parents love the organization and he runs it like an efficient business.  It’s a model that has shown that there’s talent everywhere, not just California.” – California club coach

 

On the Bubble (two who just missed the top 10):

*** Don DeDonatis: Chairman of the Board/CEO of USSSA
Don DeDonatis has grown USSSA into a formidable softball organization that covers softball from youth to the pro level.  He was lauded by many for his support of the National Pro Fastpitch league which saw his USSSA Pride team win the 2013 Cowles Cup.

Why others are saying:

• “Don has made it so a pro league could survive and so some could make a living.  He’s working hard to give little kids softball a chance as well and successfully see their dreams of playing at a pro level come true.”

*** Jessica Mendoza (Olympian, broadcaster)
Another softball player who excelled on the field and has now become a national figure through her expertise as a softball analyst for ESPN as well as a college football sideline reporter.

Why others are saying:

• “Jessica is a role model and influences other young girls because of her success in winning Olympic medals and World Championships, sure, but she has shown you can be an athlete, mother, and broadcaster as well as charity work.  Just a good example and someone I want my players to emulate.” – California club coach