Sabatella Named Top 25 Finalist for D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year
August 19, 2026 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Louisville softball assistant coach and hitting coach Bryan Sabatella has been named one of 25 finalists for the D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year award, D1Softball announced Wednesday morning.
Sabatella helped guide the Cardinals to a historic offensive season in 2026, as Louisville established numerous single-season program records and ranked among the nation's top offenses.
Louisville finished the season with a .346 team batting average, setting a program record and ranking fourth in the ACC. The Cardinals set program records for hits (547), runs (428), doubles (112), RBIs (386), walks (233) and stolen bases (129), while also producing 20 comeback victories throughout the season.
The success of Louisville's offense was reflected in the postseason awards, highlighted by catcher Bri Despines earning NFCA Third Team All-America honors. Despines hit .402 on the season with 70 RBIs and ranked third in the ACC with a .552 on-base percentage while posting a .756 slugging percentage. She also started all 58 games and threw out 12 runners attempting to steal, tied for the ACC lead.
Outfielder Chelsea Mack earned First Team All-ACC honors after batting .439 with 87 hits, a .500 on-base percentage and an NCAA-leading 45 stolen bases. Despines was also named to the All-ACC First Team, while Louisville had multiple additional players recognized among the conference's postseason honors.
Louisville's offensive production helped fuel one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Cardinals finished 44-14 overall and 18-6 in ACC play, earning the most ACC wins in program history and their first 40-win season since 2013. Louisville also earned its first NFCA Coaches' Poll ranking since 2013 and finished the regular season ranked No. 25.
Sabatella has served as Louisville's hitting coach since joining head coach Holly Aprile's staff in 2023.
D1Softball has issued its National Assistant Coach of the Year award annually since 2024, but this is the first time the organization has published the full list of 25 finalists for the award. The D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the Pitching Coach of the Year presented by PitchCom, will be announced on Aug. 31.
Sabatella helped guide the Cardinals to a historic offensive season in 2026, as Louisville established numerous single-season program records and ranked among the nation's top offenses.
Louisville finished the season with a .346 team batting average, setting a program record and ranking fourth in the ACC. The Cardinals set program records for hits (547), runs (428), doubles (112), RBIs (386), walks (233) and stolen bases (129), while also producing 20 comeback victories throughout the season.
The success of Louisville's offense was reflected in the postseason awards, highlighted by catcher Bri Despines earning NFCA Third Team All-America honors. Despines hit .402 on the season with 70 RBIs and ranked third in the ACC with a .552 on-base percentage while posting a .756 slugging percentage. She also started all 58 games and threw out 12 runners attempting to steal, tied for the ACC lead.
Outfielder Chelsea Mack earned First Team All-ACC honors after batting .439 with 87 hits, a .500 on-base percentage and an NCAA-leading 45 stolen bases. Despines was also named to the All-ACC First Team, while Louisville had multiple additional players recognized among the conference's postseason honors.
Louisville's offensive production helped fuel one of the most successful seasons in program history. The Cardinals finished 44-14 overall and 18-6 in ACC play, earning the most ACC wins in program history and their first 40-win season since 2013. Louisville also earned its first NFCA Coaches' Poll ranking since 2013 and finished the regular season ranked No. 25.
Sabatella has served as Louisville's hitting coach since joining head coach Holly Aprile's staff in 2023.
D1Softball has issued its National Assistant Coach of the Year award annually since 2024, but this is the first time the organization has published the full list of 25 finalists for the award. The D1Softball National Assistant Coach of the Year, as well as the Pitching Coach of the Year presented by PitchCom, will be announced on Aug. 31.
Players Mentioned
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