USSSA Pride's General Manager, Don DeDonatis, is continuing to make bold moves--he just hired the first former USSSA Pride NPF player Megan Willis as Assistant General Manager. 



DeDonatis saw huge potential in Willis: "Watching her take control of the field during her 6 years as a catcher for the Pride, she proved she had the qualities, the tools to do the same off the field."

"I could not be more excited about this opportunity! It has always been a goal of mine to become a GM of a team in the NPF; however, it wasn't until I had the privilege to play for the USSSA Pride that I realized I didn't want to be a GM for just any team, I wanted to take over for Don when that day came," said Willis.

2017 is projected to be a very big year for the USSSA organization as they unveiled their plans for new headquarters at Space Coast Stadium. The new USSSA complex in Viera includes 15 turfed fields, five NCAA-approved fastpitch fields, and a new USSSA Pride stadium. Brevard County will now play home to the USSSA Pride and allow the team to build a hometown fan base.


Willis sees the bigger picture clearly. "The moment I heard about this move I knew I had to move myself. If I wanted to continue down this path with the Pride, I needed to make them a priority," she said. "I wanted to be there day in and day out to be around the office and make sure I was all in. If we want USSSA and the Pride to grow, then we need people there full time."

This is huge news for USSSA Pride fans who crave the home-game experience.

We finally have a chance to have our own stadium, which means we can truly build a fan base! Luckily, we will have knowledgeable neighbors to reach out to as they have been following baseball for years. It'll be our job now to show them how great fastpitch is.

It's definitely refreshing to see former NPF players staying on board to help elevate the league. Willis is clear about her mission to stay in the game although not on the field.

"I think it is imperative to keep former NPF players around to help grow our sport. You see it in the college game--our sport has grown tremendously, and has improved tenfold. I have to believe that's because you are having more and more women stay in the game, whether its coaching, staying as a GA, becoming a director of operations, working for a sports manufacturer, or on the broadcasting side. There are just so many opportunities out there to stay in the game today and I do feel like it's our duty to make sure we find ways to continue to make our sport the best it can be! It has always been a goal of mine to be on the managerial side of a NPF team and I couldn't be more grateful to Don for seeing my passion for this role and taking a chance on me."

Willis will oversee scouting duties, free-agent player trades and acquisitions, in-season and off-season Pride player appearances, Pride Fall Tour stops, Pride player staffing within the USA Elite Select program, and communication between Pride and its management.

The 2017 NPF season will begin with the annual NPF College Draft. Dates for the draft and upcoming season will be announced next month.

For more information on USSSA Pride.