The college softball regular season is beginning to wind down. Postseason tournaments are right around the corner. Both Florida Gulf Coast and Florida Southwestern are expected to make deep playoff runs, which is no surprise with some historic coaches leading the way.
When David Deiros starter the FGCU softball program over two decades ago, he never imagined what it would become.
"Dude, that would have been channeling Nostradamus if I would have figured out we would be Division I in a beautiful stadium," Deiros told Gulf Coast News. "We were going to be a really good NAIA, Division II team."
The Eagles began at that level, but quickly found success and moved up to Division I. Since making that move, FGCU has won the Atlantic Sun tournament twice and accumulated numerous personal accolades. Through it all, Deiros has been at the helm.
"It feels great," Deiros said. "It is a testament to 23 years of fantastic people."
Deiros's most recent accomplishment was surpassing the 800 career wins mark. It's a feat very few college coaches get to, and one that he shares with his former and current players.
"I haven’t caught a ball. They won’t let me," Deiros said. "They won’t let me hit; they won’t let me pitch, and for good reason. I’m not very good. They do all the what’s work and heavy lifting."
Just four days after Deiros hit 800, FSW head coach Robert Iamurri surpassed 500 career wins right down the road.
"To get that type of consistency, you have to do a lot of things right, not just one or two things right," Iamurri said.
Iamurri has done that for decades at all levels of softball. He has around 1,100 Little League wins, 2,500 travel ball wins, 800 high school wins, and now 500 collegiate wins.
"It’s one of those little niches you check off and say, 'What the heck. I’ve done it at these three levels. Let’s see if I can do it at that fourth level,'" Iamurri said.
After decades of coaching, Iamurri has accumulated nearly 5,000 combined wins, and he's not done just yet.
"I’m just coaching as long as I can enjoy it," Iamurri said. "I know the years are a few left."
Two local softball legends continuing to make history in the Gulf Coast.