Northern Colorado softball coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm earned another award this week.
Pendleton-Helm, who has much success at UNC since taking the head job less than three years ago, was honored Wednesday morning for her effort in challenging players “to reach beyond their perceived limits, instilling them with self-esteem and resilience to tackle life’s next big obstacle.”
Pendleton-Helm received the Dave King Challenger Award from Triple Crown Sports and CHAMP, a nonprofit in Fort Collins. King founded Triple Crown Sports in the early 1980s.
CHAMP executive director Korin LaPlante said Pendleton-Helm was identified a few years as potential award winner because of her work at CSU, and her reputation and background as a coach. Pendleton-Helm was an assistant coach at Colorado State before being hired at UNC in June 2022.
“She moved to UNC and has done a phenomenal job,” LaPlante said. “It’s becoming quickly known. It was an easy selection.”
Northern Colorado has won two Big Sky Conference Tournament titles and a conference regular-season title in Pendleton-Helm’s first two full seasons with the Bears.
Two others were honored with awards at CHAMP’s annual Breakfast of Champions on Wednesday morning. Kelly Lyell, a longtime reporter at The Coloradoan, received the Keli McGregor Servant Leadership Award. Rocky Mountain High School teacher and coach Mark Brook received the Sonny Lubick Coach of Character Award.
Pendleton-Helm worked at Triple Crown Sports, which is an event management company in Fort Collins producing college and youth sports. Pendleton-Helm worked for Triple Crown in the late 1990s when she was new to college coaching and making little money as a second assistant at Colorado State. Pendleton-Helm’s full-time job was starting the fastpitch softball division.
CHAMP is an organization focused on promoting positive character as an integral component of student-athletes’ success in sports and beyond the playing field, according to its website.
LaPlante said a committee of board members and past winners select the award recipients each year.
Pendleton-Helm played at Creighton from 1991-95, excelling as a pitcher and utility player. She set multiple program records and earned All-Missouri Valley Conference and all-region honors.
She spent 17 seasons as an assistant at Colorado State, where she developed the Rams’ pitching staff and was key part of the team’s return to the NCAA Tournament in 2019. Pendleton-Helm also coached for six years at the University of Mississippi where she worked with outfielders, pitchers, hitters and recruiting.
“Dedeann Pendleton-Helm embodies everything the Dave King Challenger Award represents,” UNC Athletic Director Darren Dunn said in a statement. “She is a relentless leader who not only pushes her players to excel on the field but also empowers them to grow as individuals. Her impact on UNC softball has been transformational, and we are incredibly proud to see her receive this well-deserved recognition.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Northern Colorado softball coach Dedeann Pendleton-Helm wins award for work with athletes on and off the field )
Also on site :