In memory of Dr. Nancy Bottge:
Florida Tech Mourns the Passing of Longtime Softball Coach

Nancy Bottge

Bill Jurgens, Florida Tech Director of Athletics “Coach Bottge was the perfect person for the Florida Tech softball coaching position. She brought a high level of professionalism to the emerging fast pitch program. She clearly understood the limitations of a small, young, private university and gave everything she had to making the program better. I am very thankful for her contributions to Florida Tech athletics and being an important part of the Florida Tech family. Marsha Duncan, Vice President for Student Affairs and Associate Provost “It was great working with Nancy, she was a fun person to be around and we will all miss her. She worked great with her team and was highly respected by her athletes. On a personal note, I will always remember her love for dogs and when she used to bring her golden retriever, Kingsly, by my office and show off all of his tricks.” Stacy Warren, Panther First Baseman (2001-2004) “Coach was the strongest woman I knew and an amazing, incredible person. There were a lot of people around her that loved her—we were a family—she looked out for all of us.” Pete Mazzone, Assistant Athletic Director and Head Cross Country Coach “She was a very smart person and great coach. I have always known her to be a fighter for her program and in life. She fought for everything her softball team had …” John Reynolds, Head Women’s Basketball Coach “I think that Florida Tech has lost a great coach, and personally, I lost a great friend. It’s important for her players to know how much their efforts meant to her this past season.” Tamara Baker, Panther Outfielder (2000-2003), Assistant Coach 2004 “Besides teaching me how to be a better ball player she also taught me how to be a better person, by accepting people for who they are and portraying a cordial and pleasant attitude in return … she ended up becoming another mother in my eyes along with a great coach and friend.” Jesse Lawrence, Panther First and Third Baseman (2002-2005) “Coach Bottge had a presence in life. She never gave up on us, and we in turn, never gave up on her. She was just an amazing, remarkable person.”

The Florida Tech athletic department suffered an immeasurable loss on Aug. 8, when head softball coach Dr. Nancy Bottge lost her battle
with cancer.

Bottge, 48, spent 11 seasons as head coach of the Panthers, consistently guiding her teams to a winning record every year. Late in the 2005 season, Florida Tech posted a 6-1 victory over Sunshine State Conference rival Nova Southeastern to mark the 500th win of Bottge’s collegiate coaching career. Her final Florida Tech team posted the best record ever by a Panther softball team, 33-15 (.688).

Sadly, what proved to be Bottge’s last game was one of her career highlights, defeating SSC opponent Rollins College 8-0 in five innings on their senior recognition night. With two outs, senior captain Jesse Lawrence smacked one into left field for a three-run home run, putting Tech up 6-0.

In 21 years as a college head coach, Bottge amassed a career record of 501-314-2, giving her a .615 career winning percentage. While at Florida Tech, she also garnered a winning record with the Panthers of 316-237-2.

The 2004 season was a special one for Florida Tech softball, as the Panthers earned a spot in the NCAA Division II south region poll for the first time in school history. The Panthers posted a school record 21-game victory streak and clawed their way to a #8 regional ranking that year.

Bottge’s 2003 team compiled a 30-20-1 (.598) overall record—at the time, the best in school history—and earned the coach her 400th career victory early in the campaign.

In 1995, during her first year with Florida Tech, Bottge made an immediate impact, piloting the Panthers to a 29-22 (.569) record—a drastic improvement from the previous year’s 9-33 overall record. Interestingly enough, the 1995 squad featured seven of nine starters from the previous season.

The following year, in 1996, Bottge’s squad set a new program record for victories, posting 33-25 (.569), the first of two consecutive 30-win seasons for Florida Tech. The Panthers went 30-25 (.545) in 1997.

Bottge’s 1995 and 1996 teams also produced Florida Tech’s first All-America softball player, Elisa Bartolo. Bartolo, who claimed back-to-back NCAA batting titles, went on to gain induction into the Florida Tech and Sunshine State Conference Halls of Fame in 2001 and 2002-2003, respectively.

Before joining Florida Tech, Bottge coached at Bloomfield College in New Jersey, where she led the Deacons to five NAIA district championships and earned District 31 Coach of the Year honors six times between 1983 and 1990. In 10 years at Bloomfield, she compiled a 185-77 (.706) win-loss record with four national tournament appearances.

She received her bachelor’s degree in communications from William Paterson College and a Master of Arts in Physical Education from New York University. In 1996, she earned her Doctorate in Education from the University of Central Florida.

In addition to her intercollegiate softball participation, Bottge played semiprofessional softball for 10 years in Philadelphia and Staten Island, N.Y. She was a huge Yankees fan.
Bottge was born in Nutley, N.J., and made her home in Indialantic, Fla.

Donations may be made in her memory to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation or the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Christa Parulis-Kaye