As part of its annual banquet in New Orleans, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association recognized Central College associate head softball coach Alicia O’Brien earlier this month as the division three assistant coach of the year.

According to the NFCA, the award “salutes the efforts of coaches for their tireless dedication to the sport of softball and to the continued education, growth and development of young women – both on and off the playing field”.

O’Brien told KNIA/KRLS sports that the culture at Central College has allowed her to help student-athletes in a variety of ways.

“Central College can pride itself on the fact that the coaches are very concerned about the student-athlete as a whole being. There are a lot of coaches that do the same thing (as I do), worrying about the student off the field and off the court and try to help them in any way that they can so that they develop that whole being. And I think Central College does that very well.”

O’Brien is in her 11th season at Central College after spending 18 seasons as the head coach of Western Connecticut State University. She’s the wife of Dutch head softball coach George Wares.

She received her award at a brunch on December 10th in New Orleans.