ST. LOUIS - Second-year University of Northern Iowa head softball coach Ryan Jacobs and his staff earned Missouri Valley Conference Coaching Staff of the Year laurels Wednesday.

After UNI endured four straight losing seasons, Jacobs and his staff in 2009 orchestrated a 14-win improvement from a year ago. The Panthers, currently 34-21 overall and 15-11 in league play, won the most conference games in program history this spring.

"This is a very high honor for our staff," said Jacobs, a Cedar Rapids native and former UNI baseball player.

"This honor never would've happened without the student-athletes who have bought into our philosophies. They … give full effort every day."

Jacobs has quickly turned UNI into an offensive threat. The 2009 Panthers currently lead the Valley in batting average, slugging percentage, runs, RBIs and home runs. UNI's 52 home runs this season also represents a school-record.

Jacobs' top aides in the Panther dugout are Julie Gerdes and Stephanie Winter.

Also on Wednesday, the Panther softball squad was honored with six all-conference players - plus the MVC Newcomer of the Year.

The total of seven all-conference honorees is also unprecedented in UNI history.

Freshman shortstop Mackenzie Daigh earned league newcomer of the year accolades after hitting .317 with 14 total multi-hit games.

UNI first-team honorees included outfielders Rachel Gerking (58 RBIs) and Megan Machovec (69 hits). The list of Panther second-team nods were Brittney Balduf (10 home runs), Jen Larsen (18-11, 2.00 ERA), Kelly Papesh (12 home runs) and Daigh.

2009 MVC softball all-conference

FIRST TEAM

Tara Oltman, jr. P (Creighton); Jenna DeLong, soph., P (Drake); Heather Gerrritse, soph. C (Wichita State); Renae Sinkler, jr. 1B (Creighton); Michelle Koch, jr. 2B (Creighton); Meredith Simpson, sr. SS (Indiana State); Abby Olson, soph. 3B (Illinois State); Rachel Gerking, jr. OF (Northern Iowa); Megan Machovec, jr. OF (Northern Iowa); Jen Stahlhut, soph. OF (Evansville); Katie Armour, sr. DP (Indiana State); Kylie Wagner, fr. Utility (Evansville); Ashley Birdsong, sr. P (Bradley); Erin Bly, soph. Utility (Drake); Amber Smith, sr. P (Illinois State); Jessie Smith, sr. SS (Missouri State); Darcy Wood, sr. P (Indiana State).

PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Renae Sinkler (Creighton)

PITCHER OF THE YEAR - Tara Oltman (Creighton)

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR - Mackenzie Daigh (UNI)

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR - Northern Iowa

SECOND TEAM

Alycia Bachkora, sr. 1B (Bradley); Brittney Balduf, sr. 3B (Northern Iowa); Mackenzie Daigh, fr. SS (Northern Iowa); Alicia Garza, jr. 2B (Southern Illinois); Jen Larsen, jr. P (Northern Iowa); Elena Leon, jr. SS (Drake); Kara L'Hullier, jr. 2B (Wichita State); Kelly Papesh, sr. C (Northern Iowa); Niki Stansell, jr. SS (Illinois State); Katie Wagner, sr. 3B (Southern Illinois); Jessica Wakasugi, sr. OF (Creighton0.