At this time last year, Shay Fuson was transitioning to a life as a mother and out of coaching softball at North Idaho College after six years as an assistant coach to Don Don Williams.

Then, everything changed.

Williams, who started the Cardinal program in 1998, took the head coaching job at Southern Utah in Cedar City in August. Fuson — then Craig — who played for Williams from 2006 to 2008, with a national runner-up finish in 2007, transitioned back into being a Cardinal. She was named interim coach in October.

“It’s big shoes to fill,” said Fuson of taking over for Williams, who coached NIC to back-to-back Northwest Athletic Conference championships in 2018 and 2019. “We have such a close relationship and I was extremely honored to take over and keep the tradition alive. It’s a little different, but the core of the softball program is the same. I just want to do her and the school proud and keep the girls bought into the vision and mission of the program. I’m happy to be back. It’s awesome.”

Fuson returned to NIC as a coach after finishing her playing career at NCAA Division II Adelphi University in New York.

“I had a young child and another newborn at home,” Fuson said of stepping away from the NIC program last spring. “My husband was transitioning into a new job, so at the time, it was best for my family and husband to move to Spokane. We parted ways, and I’d accepted it. When Don Don left, everything changed.”

Her first game as head coach is today against Lake Sumter State in Leesburg, Fla., today starting at 10 a.m. PST.

Madi Mott, star pitcher on NIC’s last two NWAC tourney title teams, is at Division II Saint Leo (Fla.) University.

Sophomore Grace Ferris, NIC’s top returning pitcher who went 9-3 as a freshman, will redshirt this season with a torn meniscus.

That leaves the pitching duties to returning sophomores Brianna Hecker and Andrea Hoey, and freshman Andrea Hedington.

“We’re going to hit a little bit,” Fuson said. “With Grace out for the year, we’re going to be low (depth-wise) on our pitching staff. We’re going to hit the ball, play good defense and score some runs.”

Others returning for the Cardinals this year are sophomores Sarah Williams (infield), JJ Hammond (outfield/catcher), Hannah Click (outfield), and Grace Shimatsu (infield).

Freshmen Makayla Marshall (infielder), Taya Escalante (infield) and Emma Gray (outfield/catcher) — a Lake City High product — will also see time in the starting lineup.

Marshall will only be at NIC this season, Fuson said. She has already committed to play for Williams at Southern Utah next season.

“She’s a left-handed power hitter that’s going to do great things for us,” Fuson said. “Emma will play a little bit of everywhere and kind of fill in where we need.”

NIC’s early season home games will be at Post Falls High. Fuson added the team hopes to be back on rebuilt Memorial Field for the first time since 2017 by the March 27 doubleheader against Treasure Valley.

“If everything goes according to plan, we’ll play there,” Fuson said. “But if not, we’ll be at Post Falls High for our home games.”

The NWAC Championships are at the Dwight Merkel Sports Complex in Spokane May 15-18. The top four teams from each region advance automatically, with RPI rankings determining the final four participants for the 16-team tournament.