(Story Courtesy of Texas Lutheran University Sports Information Department)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Former Texas Lutheran assistant coach Olivia Van Hook was named the 2022 Easton/National Fastpitch Association (NFCA) Division-III Assistant Coach of the Year, the association announced Thursday afternoon.
Van Hook spent four seasons with the Texas Lutheran softball program, while also serving as the Athletics Facilities Director - with her first season being the Bulldogs' 2019 National Championship run. During her four seasons with the Bulldogs, they compiled a 140-21 record (66-1 in SCAC play) and made the Division-III Women's College World Series every year with the 2020 postseason not taking place due to COVID-19. Texas Lutheran would win the national championship in 2019, finish as national runner-up in 2021, and tie for third place in 2022.
With her primary duties being working with the Bulldogs defense and outfielders, Van Hook helped lead TLU to a historic 2022 season that saw the Bulldogs win a program record 45 games, extend their SCAC winning streak to 62 games dating back to 2019, and finish second in the country defensively with a .978 fielding percentage - first amongst teams that played a minimum of 40 games. The 2022 season saw Texas Lutheran claim its eighth straight Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) regular and postseason championships, make its eighth straight NCAA regional appearance and second consecutive super regional appearance - hosting a Super Regional for the first time in program history.
TLU head coach Wade Wilson said, "Van Hook was the epitome of an assistant coach, who was loyal to the players, university and coaching staff." Knowing Van Hook since she was eight, Wilson stated, "having her on staff was a blessing. She was nothing short of fantastic and never had a bad day."
The Bulldogs coaching staff received the NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year award all three years the award was presented during her tenure along with the 2019 NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award.
TLU closed the 2022 campaign ranking first in stolen bases with an NCAA record 231 stolen bases on the season, second in shutouts (22) and win-loss percentage (.880), third in ERA (1.33), and sixth in hits (447).
The entire NFCA press release can be read here.
