KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced Friday morning that Madonna (Mich.) head coach Ron Pezzoni has been tabbed as the 2026 NAIA Softball Coach of the Year following a historic season that culminated in the program’s first NAIA Softball National Championship.
Pezzoni guided the Crusaders to a 52-4 overall record and the 2026 NAIA Softball National Championship, leading Madonna to one of the most successful seasons in program history. Under his leadership, the Crusaders combined a dynamic offense with dominant pitching and defense to capture the national title.
Madonna’s offense was among the nation’s most productive, posting a .362 batting average, a .442 on-base percentage, and a .512 slugging percentage. The Crusaders scored 422 runs in 56 games while collecting 551 hits, including 145 extra-base hits and 31 home runs.
A key component of Madonna’s success was its aggressive baserunning. The Crusaders stole 128 bases in 151 attempts, averaging 2.29 stolen bases per game while converting opportunities at an 84.8% success rate.
The Crusaders consistently delivered in key situations throughout the season, batting .372 with runners on base and .386 in opportunities with runners in scoring position. Madonna also hit .345 with two outs and converted scoring opportunities with a runner on third base at a .626 clip.
In the circle, Madonna posted a 1.64 team ERA and a 1.11 WHIP while limiting opponents to a .227 batting average. The Crusaders recorded 15 shutouts and held opponents to 115 runs throughout the season.
Defensively, Madonna finished with a .970 fielding percentage and committed just 44 errors in 56 games.
In addition to the national championship, Pezzoni coached multiple student-athletes who earned a spot on the 2026 NAIA Softball All-World Series Team, while several Crusaders earned NAIA All-America honors during the season.
Pezzoni doubled down on coach of the year honors this season, as the Crusaders’ staff was also recognized earlier this week by the NFCA.
