Mike Candrea
Julie's personal commitment to
excellence is amazing! She has a
great understanding of the mental
approach needed to excel at the
next level!
Head Coaching Legend
University of Arizona
Lisa Bernstein
Preparation is everything! Julie's
unique detail oriented approach
teaches players to play the game
the right way!
All-Time Winningest Coach
University of Minnesota
Jen McGuinness
I learned more about the game in
my four years with Julie than at
any other time in my life. With
Julie's help I became a Big Ten
Champion!
Former Golden Gopher
All-Time Homerun Leader
When it comes to pitching, hitting, fielding, strategic, or psychological preparation training, the Minnesota Fastpitch Academy is the place to look.
The MFA possesses the most experienced and talented team of instructors in Minnesota!
The First Lady of Minnesota Fastpitch Softball. As a player, Julie was one of the all-time greats. In 1991 she helped lead the University of Arizona
Wildcats, today a perennial college softball powerhouse, to their first-ever
N.C.A.A. Division I, National Championship. A model of consistency,
she did not miss a game in her Wildcat career, playing a school-record 277 consecutive games. She remains tied for seventh in N.C.A.A. history
in games played. Julie still holds Arizona career records with 767 defensive assists and 72 walks and is second on the Wildcat all-time list with
57 stolen bases. In her senior season, Standering was a
First-Team All-American at shortstop, combining impressive offensive numbers with
a great glove on defense. She hit .296 from the leadoff position and added a career and team-high 25 stolen bases.

After her collegiate career, Standering was the shortstop for the 1991 Pan American Team that won the gold medal in Cuba. She is one of the
very few players who have won an
NCAA Championship, a Pan American Gold Medal, an ASA National Championship, and a Gold Medal in the
Olympic Festiva
l, all in the same season. Julie is considered to be among the finest middle infielders to come out of the college fastpitch game
this decade. Standering graduated from the University of Arizona in 1991 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science.

Julie served as head coach of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers for 10 seasons and 19 overall. Along with co-head coach Lisa
Bernstein, Julie Standering guided the University of Minnesota softball program through its most successful stretch in school history over the
last 19 years. Over the last 19 years, Bernstein and Standering have led the Gophers to an average of over 33 wins per season. They have
produced 12 winning seasons, including ten in the last 12 years, and have posted a .569 overall winning percentage. Under the guidance of
Bernstein and Standering, the Golden Gophers have qualified for five NCAA Tournaments (1996, ’98, ’99, 2002 and ’03). Minnesota’s 2002 and ’
03 post-season appearances marked the second time they led the Maroon and Gold to back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament, the first
coming in 1998 and ’99. Bernstein and Standering led Minnesota to the most successful season in school history in 1999, highlighted by the
program’s first ever Big Ten Tournament title. The Gophers finished the year with a 48-20 overall record, matching the school record win total
which was originally set just one year earlier. Minnesota posted its highest Big Ten regular season finish since 1996, taking second place with
a 16-8 conference record. They co-own North Country Softball Camps and Clinics, which are conducted annually throughout the state of
Minnesota.
The MFA Team
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© 2010 Minnesota Fastpitch Academy. All Rights Reserved
Julie Standering
Lisa Bernstein
Since 1984, Bernstein has been a softball camp administrator throughout the nation, including Minnesota, California, Nevada, Oregon and
Wisconsin. She is in charge of the annual Minnesota Softball Camp held at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. Bernstein was a four-year starter at
catcher for the Wildcats from 1983-86. She batted .257 with 47 RBI and ranked sixth on the all-time putout list with 561 at the end of her career.
Bernstein was a Pacific-10 all-conference selection and a second-team all-region pick her senior year. She was a GTE Academic All-America
honorable mention recipient and earned most valuable player honors twice for the Wildcats. During her academic career, Bernstein received the
McKale Memorial Scholarship, a combined athletic and academic honor, and the Golden Eagle Award for excellence in academics and athletics
from 1983-86. A 1986 graduate of Arizona, Bernstein holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Master’s Degree in Exercise
and Sports Science.

Bernstein was named head coach of the University of Minnesota fastpitch softball program in the fall of 1991, fresh off winning a national
championship as an assistant coach with the University of Arizona, where she served 5 seasons under coaching legend Mike Candrea. During
her time at Arizona, the Wildcats netted a 249-88 record, and participated in the N.C.A.A. tournaments all 5 of her seasons. Bernstein was
responsible for coaching pitchers and catchers, a number of whom earned All-America and All-Conference honors.

Along with co-head coach Julie Standering, Lisa Bernstein guided the University of Minnesota softball program through its most successful
stretch in school history over the last 19 years. Over the last 19 years, Bernstein and Standering have led the Gophers to an average of over 33
wins per season. They have produced 12 winning seasons, including ten in the last 12 years, and have posted a .569 overall winning
percentage. Under the guidance of Bernstein and Standering, the Golden Gophers have qualified for five NCAA Tournaments (1996, ’98, ’99,
2002 and ’03). Minnesota’s 2002 and ’03 post-season appearances marked the second time they led the Maroon and Gold to back-to-back trips
to the NCAA Tournament, the first coming in 1998 and ’99. Bernstein and Standering led Minnesota to the most successful season in school
history in 1999, highlighted by the program’s first ever Big Ten Tournament title. The Gophers finished the year with a 48-20 overall record,
matching the school record win total which was originally set just one year earlier. Minnesota posted its highest Big Ten regular season finish
since 1996, taking second place with a 16-8 conference record. They co-own North Country Softball Camps and Clinics, which are conducted
annually throughout the state of Minnesota. At the University of Minnesota Julie has coached six All-Americans, 34 all-region picks, 10 first team,
16 second-team and seven third-team All-Big Ten selections over 18 seasons with the Gophers. Amassing a grand total of 567 wins, Lisa
Bernstein is the all-time wins leader at the University of Minnesota.
Kristin put the crowning touch on a splendid four-year playing career at the University of Minnesota Duluth by being named to the 2010 Louisville
Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II All-American third team. Danielson, a pitcher/outfielder from Mounds View, MN,
becomes just the fourth Bulldog ever to attain All-American status in softball. The four-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/North
Central Conference honoree closed out her farewell year in record-breaking fashion as she established career marks for pitching wins (58),
strikeouts (547), appearances (113), starts (93), innings (624.2) and complete games (72) as well as program bests for home runs (21), runs
batted in (128), total bases (283) and walks (63). In 2010, Danielson enjoyed her most productive season as a collegian -- both on the mound
and at the plate. She topped the Bulldogs in host of offensive categories including batting average (a career-high .371 figure), hits (59), doubles
(11) and on base percentage (.433) in addition to going 17-10 with a personal-best 1.87 earned run average in 30 outings. Danielson, who held
opposing hitters to a .193 batting average -- the second lowest mark among all NSIC hurlers this season, is the first individual to lead UMD in
both ERA and batting average in the same season. She appeared in 188 games of 191 games as a Bulldog and hit at a .334 clip.
Bethany Benting
Colleen Conway
Kristin Danielson
Alison Murphy graduated from Stevens High School in Rapid City, South Dakota in 2007. She lettered 3 times in softball, 3 times in basketball,
and twice in track for the Raiders. After graduation, she attended the University of Minnesota and played for the Gophers as a first baseman,
outfielder, and hitter. Alison was an Academic All-Big Ten athlete for 3 consecutive years. She graduated from the U of M with a Bachelor of
Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in exercise and health science. Alison has been working camps with Julie Standering and Lisa
Bernstein since the summer of 2009 and with MFA since November 2010. She is currently taking a year off from school to work for MetroPlains
Management, and Minnesota Fastpitch Academy. Allison plans on returning to school in the fall of 2012.
Colleen Powers enjoyed a decorated high school and college career as a scholar-athlete. A three-sport letter winner at Benilde-St. Margaret’s
High School with the softball, hockey, and cross country teams, Powers went on to compete for the University of Minnesota softball team. As a
Golden Gopher, the two-time Severson Coaches Award winner and Most Valued Player was errorless in her defensive career as an outfielder. In
2008, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Youth Studies. Powers’ role as a team leader at the University
of Minnesota was instrumental in her decision to begin her career as a collegiate coach. At Division II West Texas A&M University, she
specialized in the instruction of hitters, slappers, infielders and outfielders. By the end of the 2009 season, Powers had assisted in leading the
Lady Buffs to a conference leading .339 batting average and their first national ranking in program history. In 2010, her coaching career brought
her back up north to Division I Central Michigan University, where she worked for former Team USA assistant coach Margo Jonker. At CMU,
Powers’ responsibilities included working with outfielders and slap hitters. In the 2011 season, she led her outfield to a .952 fielding average.
While at CMU, Powers also earned her Master of Arts degree in Sport Administration. Powers has also formerly worked as a 16U program head
coach with the Minnesota Peppers, and has spent the last seven years as a lead instructor for North Country Softball Camps and Clinics.
Throughout these unique opportunities, Powers has excelled in the instruction and development of young athletes. Her knowledge of
fundamentals and game strategy, teamed with her energy and love of the game of softball, make her a dynamic and passionate coach and
instructor.
Rachel Keeney was a graduate of Burnsville High School. A three-sport letter winner in tennis, basketball and softball she was named captain
of each of her teams her senior year. She received All-Conference and All-State honors as well as receiving Burnsville’s Athena Award for her
athletic excellence. Rachel also was named one of Burnsville’s Top 100 Seniors for her academics and athletics out of a class of nearly 800.
Keeney went on to compete for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. As a Gopher, she received many team awards throughout her
career including Most Improved, Best Defense, and was named Most Valued Player by her team both her junior and senior seasons, an award
that had never been given to the same player consecutive years. She started her career at third base as a freshman, then was moved to
shortstop her sophomore year and remained there the rest of her career. Keeney thrived on her defense and led all Big Ten shortstops in
fielding percentage (.992) her junior year, while only committing 1 error the entire Big Ten season. She also led the team in assists her senior
season. Keeney was also a leader at the plate where she came in second on the team in RBI’s and led the team in walks her senior year. She
graduated in 2005 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Child Psychology and a Minor in Coaching. Keeney had such a passion for the game she
decided to pursue a career in coaching and was hired in 2007 as the Assistant Softball Coach at Butler University, a Division I private school in
Indianapolis, Indiana. As a Bulldog, Keeney led the instruction of hitters, slappers, and outfield, while specializing in infield as well as mental
enhancement. In her first year at Butler, she led the team to the most wins in a single season with 26. After 2 seasons with the Bulldogs, Keeney
finished her collegiate coaching career and moved back to Minnesota where she now works as the Kids Activities Asst. Department Head at
Lifetime Fitness as her full time job. For the past 3 years, she has also coached softball at Burnsville High School and has continued to assist
in keeping the softball program strong there. Keeney has over 10 years experience working camps and clinics including North Country Softball
Camps, Arizona Softball Camps, individual instruction, and the Minnesota Fastpitch Academy.
Colleen Conway, an amazing all-around athlete, graduated from Hill-Murray High School in 2005 as a three sport athlete in soccer, hockey, and
softball. Conway was a 6-year letterwinner in hockey, 4-year letterwinner in soccer and 4-year letterwinner in softball. Her decorations include
being named an All-State honoree three times. Conway also earned the Hill-Murray Coaches Athlete of the Year, Students Athlete of the Year,
and received the prestigious Athena Award in her senior year. She competed in the Tri-State Softball Challenge, the Senior All-Star tournament,
and had the rare opportunity to compete in the "Bound for Beijing" Tour against the USA Gold Medal Olympic Softball Team.

Conway went on to play for the University of Minnesota. As a Golden Gopher she started every game of her four-year career, never missed an
inning of play. Conway began her career as a shortstop, moved to second base as a sophomore, third base as a junior, and back to shortstop
as a senior. Serving as the team utility infielder has proven to be an advantage in her strategic knowledge of the game. The quintessential
left-handed slapper, Conway was a career .300 hitter and served as one of the top two hitters in the Minnesota offense in three out of the four
years as a Golden Gopher. Conway earned Third Team all-Big Ten honors in her junior season and voted Defensive Player of the Year in her
junior and senior seasons.

Colleen spent the summer of 2009 in Basel, Switzerland as a professional playing coach collecting a Swiss National Championship for her
team Therwil Flyers while hitting .567. She spent her free time traveling to 8 different European countries and giving individual hitting, fielding,
and slapping lessons to players in the Swiss league. Conway has also been a Lead Instructor for North Country Softball Camps and Clinics for
a number of years.
Bethany Benting a three sport letter winner graduating from Cambridge-Isanti High School. Bethany Benting enjoyed a softball career as
Pitcher/Utility player for St. Cloud State Huskies before undergoing shoulder surgery in 2001. Since then she has remained in the game, giving
her time and passing on her knowledge to players of all ages. Bethany has coached High School softball/Pitching coach since 2003. In each of
the past summers Bethany has worked with some of the best softball players in Minnesota coaching for the Sting Elite team and community
areas such as Champlin Park (Rebels) and Elk River (Killer B's) where the team has won many State tournaments and traveled to many
National tournaments. She is excited to continue working with young pitchers in developing their game.
Rachel Keeney
Alison Murphy
Colleen Powers
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