Lonni Alameda Named AP Tournament Coach of the Year After Historic Season
Earlier today, the Associated Press made a landmark announcement: Florida State Seminoles Women’s Softball Head Coach Lonni Alameda has been named the AP Tournament Coach of the Year, a fitting tribute to a season that can only be described as extraordinary.
Alameda, now in her sixteenth year leading the Seminoles, has long been regarded as one of the premier minds in collegiate softball. This season, however, she elevated her already-stellar legacy to new heights. Under her steady leadership, the Seminoles stormed through the regular season with a 56-6 record, clinched the ACC Championship in dominant fashion, and charged into the NCAA Tournament with unparalleled momentum.
What set this season apart was not simply the wins—though there were many—it was the resilience, innovation, and unity Alameda fostered among her players. Faced with early injuries to key starters and a midseason offensive slump, she never wavered. Alameda revamped the team’s training regimen, introduced a hybrid pitching strategy that baffled opponents, and empowered younger players to step into leadership roles. The results were immediate and profound.
Throughout the tournament, the Seminoles showcased a brand of softball that was both fundamentally sound and electrifying. Alameda’s squad demonstrated razor-sharp defense, clutch hitting, and fearless base-running. In a thrilling semi-final against perennial powerhouse UCLA, the Seminoles staged a dramatic seventh-inning comeback, winning 5-4 on a walk-off double by freshman sensation Riley Monroe—a player Alameda had personally recruited and mentored.
“Coach Alameda instilled in us the belief that no moment is too big,” Monroe said after the win. “She made us understand that preparation meets opportunity—and when it does, magic happens.”
The championship game only solidified Alameda’s case for the award. Facing off against top-seeded Oklahoma, the Seminoles executed a near-flawless game plan. Pitcher Hannah Martin delivered a complete-game masterpiece, and every Seminole hitter contributed to a 7-2 statement victory that sent shockwaves through the college softball world.
In accepting the AP Tournament Coach of the Year honor, Alameda remained characteristically humble.
“This award isn’t about me,” Alameda said at the press conference. “It’s about the young women who bought into our vision, trusted the process, and gave everything they had for each other. I’m just the lucky one who gets to call herself their coach.”
Beyond the wins and the trophies, Alameda’s impact is felt in the culture she has built—a culture of excellence, inclusivity, and unwavering positivity. Former players describe her as a coach who not only hones elite athletes but also shapes extraordinary individuals ready to succeed off the field.
Today’s award cements Lonni Alameda’s standing among the legends of college softball. Yet, if today’s announcement made anything clear, it’s that she’s far from finished writing her story. As Seminole Nation celebrated this latest triumph, Alameda was already back at work—charting the course for another run at greatness.
