(Columbia, Tenn. - May 18, 2015) Coach Johnny Littrell, Columbia State Community College's head softball coach, was recently named Region VII Coach of the Year by the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association.

"I appreciate the coaches who thought I deserved this award even though we didn't win the conference championship," Littrell said. "I couldn't have earned this without the help of assistant coaches Rick Stevens and Lori Lindsey."

The Coach of the Year award is nominated and chosen by the coaches of the TCCAA. The winner of the award is usually the coach of the team that has the most wins and the toughest schedule.

"I am very thankful to all of my players that worked so hard to become a team that enjoyed playing softball and helping each other through their academic progress," Littrell said.

Littrell started coaching girls' fast pitch softball at Columbia State in 1988 and has won seven state championships and qualified for numerous national tournaments. He also won Coach of the Year in 2007. Littrell is also the current interim athletic director.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, one of the largest higher education systems in the nation. For more information, please visit www.columbiastate.edu.

Tennessee's Community Colleges is a system of 13 colleges offering a high-quality, affordable, convenient and personal education to prepare students to achieve their educational and career goals in two years or less. We offer associate degree and certificate programs, workforce development programs and transfer pathways to four-year degrees. For more information, please visit us online at tncommunitycolleges.org.