Bob Jones’ Braeden Netherton earns scholarship to national softball convention in Las Vegas

MADISON – The world of high school softball stretches wide and far across the United States and any coach of the prep scene will cherish the chance to converse with their peers and share knowledge of the sport each coach is dedicated to.

For Bob Jones softball head coach Braeden Netherton, she was presented an opportunity of an extreme assistance in a different way as the second-year head coach of the Lady Patriots being named the recipient of the 2025 Wade J. Bruggeman Memorial Scholarship, which included complimentary registration for the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s (NFCA) National Convention held in Las Vegas, $700 in travel reimbursement and up to four nights paid at the convention’s host hotel the famous Harrah’s.

“The experience was one of the best week’s I’ve experienced as it presented me opportunities for networking with other coaches from across the country and I found every coach was willing to give their professional tips on just about every aspect of the sport,” said Netherton, who brought along her two assistant coaches Meghan Hill and Kent Chambers to the Las Vegas four-day event.

Netherton and her husband, Hunter, have two children, Baylor, 9, and Boston 6. She teaches English at Bob Jones along with her duties with the softball program where she went through some professional and personal concerns once taking over the program for the 2025 season. She not only inherited a program that was in debt, Netherton was also dealt health issues. Upon first working at Bob Jones in Sept. 2024 also upon a routine annual checkup, she was diagnosed with Adenomyosis, a medical situation where tissue from the lining of the uterus grows into the uterine wall, an issue that is very painful causing severe pelvic area pain. She underwent a hysterectomy in Dec. of 2024. Four months later, she was diagnosed of having a grade 4C tumor in her breast, which was found to be benign. She went through all of the mental and physical anguish with professionalism, a positive attitude and strong religious Faith.

Netherton will be the first to admit she did not go through the past 18 months alone as she credits her two assistant coaches who helped her in every aspect of the difficulties she and program faced. She said, “We worked very hard as all of this became a challenge, but we erased much of the team debt through numerous fundraising efforts, pinched our pennies and chose not to spend extra money where it wasn’t necessary. With my coaches taking the process of season-workouts and other areas during my absence was wonderful.”

The 32-year old Netherton said Chambers submitted the necessary letter and information to the NFCA about her situation nominating her for the award where she became only the third recipient of the honor named after Wade Bruggeman who spent 38 years as a high school teacher, coach and principal in the state of Iowa. The scholarship is awarded to a coach who combines a shared passion for education and coaching, while showing a commitment to youth education and growing the sport of softball.

“I never thought in a million years I would be chosen and I cried, was very emotional as I was in shock when I found out as they arranged a FaceTime with the team and told me of my winning,” said Netherton. “To have Kent write a meaningful letter is special. It was surreal. I am so overwhelmingly grateful to be able to go the convention and obtain all of the helpful information that will help me be a better coach, and to be recognized by the NFCA and Bruggeman’s daughter and NFCA CEO, Carol, who said her family had a choice in the award.”

Netherton said the convention had different sessions on a variety of subjects that each of the Bob Jones staff members attended and then sharing the session’s information with one another. She singled out the coach from the University of Missouri who spoke on tracking data in practice and not just in games. Make every moment accountable she said. Netherton said meeting and hearing Dot Richardson of Liberty University was amazing as the college coach spoke on consistency and holding every player accountable of what they do. “Dot said to not worship softball, but using softball to worship the Lord and to make sure everyone associated with the team peaks at the right time. All of that is important to me,” said Netherton. “I also met Texas coach Mike White and we spoke about the book we both had our teams read. Twin Thieves is written by Steve Jones and Lucas Jadin and I had my team read and discuss their reading, which in turn establishes leadership skills within our team.”

The upcoming 2026 softball season gets underway with first official practice allowed beginning Jan. 19 with first games set for Feb. 19. Netherton is excited to begin her quest of being a better coach in better health and the desire to make her players, coaches and team a great representation of her coaching ability and Bob Jones High.