KANSAS CITY, MO. (June 21, 2024) – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that Bruce Lenington of Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) has been named the 2024 NAIA Softball Coach of the Year, marking the first time Lenington has received the honor.

Athletic Director Tom Norris commented, "The OLLU Athletic Department is proud to congratulate Coach Lenington on such an outstanding season. What he has accomplished as the leader of the softball team, including a conference undefeated record of 24-0, deserves recognition. The San Antonio City Council, Mayor Ron Nirenberg, the Bexar County Commissioners Court, and Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai have honored Bruce and the team as San Antonio's Pride of the Westside. We look forward to his continued success with a great group of women through next season and beyond."

Lenington guided the Saints to the program's first NAIA Red Banner in program history after a 57-3 season.

The Saints, a team that demonstrated unwavering resilience and determination, concluded their season as one of the hottest teams in the nation. They ran through their regular season slate, suffering only one loss to Central Washington back on February 7. At the tail end of a stellar season, OLLU won their last seven consecutive games to wrap up play. After suffering what would become the last loss of the season in the 2024 Red River Athletic Conference Championship Game to LSU Alexandria, OLLU outscored opponents 19-3 in the seven-game span. OLLU didn't allow a run to be scored against them until the NAIA World Series Semifinal game, which went eight innings.

In the 2024 season, Lenington guided his team to impressive numbers, hitting .347, and topped nearly every offensive category this season. Including hits (466), doubles (90), triples (13), home runs (53), RBIs (319), and extra-base hits (156).

OLLU, a team that consistently proved their dominance, was the top-ranked team in the nation from the first regular season rating on March 6 through the final rating ahead of conference tournaments on May 1. Lenington coached the 2024 Player of the Year and two-time NAIA All-American First-Team selection in pitcher Cassandra Valdez, who put up impressive numbers all season long.

Lenington, a coach who embodies humility and gratitude, commented, "I am grateful to have the opportunity to coach at OLLU and represent the Westside of San Antonio. This award was given to me because of what my team, coaches and families were able to achieve in 2024. I am humbled to accept it on their behalf."

The NAIA Softball National Coach of the Year is selected through an election process following the annual World Series involving all NAIA Softball Coaches. The ballot includes all conferences, the Continental Athletic Conference, and the World Series quarterfinalists.

OLLU has had only one other coach named NAIA Coach of the Year since the university began competing in the NAIA in 2007. During the 2015-2016 season, Women's Basketball Head Coach Christopher Minner was named United States Marine Corps/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year. His team finished in the final four of the national tournament that year.