SIUE softball Head Coach Sandy Montgomery is featured in The Softball Coaching Bible Volume II, a new book recently published by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
The book features 26 other collegiate softball coaches. It is broken up into six parts with each emphasizing a different aspect of being a head coach for an NCAA program.
Former Iowa head coach and NFCA Hall of Fame member Gayle Blevins put the book together and reached out to Montgomery to contribute.
“The first volume of this book was a pretty good seller in the softball world,” Montgomery said. “I was honored that someone of Gayle’s stature asked me to contribute.”
The Cougars head coach is the author of Chapter 23, titled “Developing Student-Athletes off the Field.” Montgomery shares her insight on attributes that winning players should possess, such as accountability, responsibility and work ethic.
Montgomery wrote the chapter shortly after the Cougars won the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship. She said that while that championship team wasn’t her most talented squad, it was made up of players who were accountable, disciplined and put the team first.
“You need total players and a culture established within your program,” Montgomery said.
That’s a really important concept for me, and I think it’s instrumental in winning. You need players with good character, good values and a belief in what you’re trying to do as a program.”
Quotes from former SIUE players Samantha Stanicek (2010-2013) and Kasey (Schlafke) Griffith (2008-2011) also are included as the two share their experiences under Montgomery’s tutelage.
In the book, Montgomery also discussed the importance of coaches being educators and developing student-athletes not only as players, but also as people.
“The culture we’ve established is a big reason why we don’t have many kids leave our program,” Montgomery added. “You get sustained success with players who contribute both on and off the field. If you don’t have the foundation for your team to keep being successful together, then you’re not going to win consistently.”
The Softball Coaching Bible Volume II is available for purchase here.
Montgomery and the Cougars kick off the 2014 regular season when they travel to Baton Rouge, La., for the LSU Tournament Feb. 7-8.