“We don’t really focus on that piece,” said Dedeann Pendleton-Helm, head coach of the UNC softball team, referred to as Coach P by most. And that piece she was talking about was winning.
But win is exactly what Coach P has done since arriving at UNC in the fall of 2022. Under her leadership, the Bears won their first conference championship in 2023. Then, in 2024, they became back-to-back champions. Previously, she coached at Colorado State University for 17 years. UNC is her first head coach position, and she came in with an inspiring mission. “Really, the entire focus was how much team-building we could do, and how much love and care we could give,” said Coach P.
“When it comes to the ballfield, we play ball to the best of our ability.” She’s more focused on cultivating a team that’s in sync and backed by a coaching staff that truly cares about them. In essence, it’s building a team that fights hard for their fellow Bears and digs deep to play well on behalf of something bigger, explains Coach P.
Sabrina “Javo” Javorsky, is one of those Bears. She’s a catcher majoring in Athletic Training who joined the UNC Bears in 2023 from Fairleigh Dickinson, a private university in New Jersey. She describes herself as an intense player, “I won’t stop until I’ve hit my goal. Some coaches tell you to calm down, but Coach P loved my intensity and helped me be a leader.”
The 2023 softball program’s mission statement was ‘Rooted in Love.’ That simple statement illustrated the team’s goal. It was a year focused on building meaningful relationships, trust and deciding on their values. Coach P embodies the theme and empowers her entire coaching staff to live by that value.
“That personal connection means the most. They treat you as a person before a player,” said Javorsky.
Coach P welcomes new players warmly each year. “Every year you rebuild that love, trust and care.”
“‘How do they look, Javo?’” quoted Javorsky, when Coach P asked her about pitchers during practice. “It’s huge when the catcher and pitcher have that trust.” This simple question showed how much respect and trust Coach P has for the senior catcher.
“When I first came here, I was very secluded,” said Javorsky. “Coach P and her wife both helped me. They helped me tear down my walls to trust on and off the field.” Heather Pendleton-Helm, Ph.D., Coach P’s wife, has taught at UNC for over 20 years. She is a tremendous supporter of the team and plays an active role in supporting student-athletes.
UNC softball had a lot to prove with the first-ever conference championship in the rearview. But Coach P didn’t feel the pressure. Instead, she’s realistic about what the team can accomplish. “We’re going to go through years of non-winning and winning.”
So, when the Bears went to the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) regionals in 2024, they went to Stillwater, Oklahoma, with their heads held high representing Bear Country. They played against No. 5 seed Oklahoma State and almost beat the decorated University of Michigan program, and though the Bears were eliminated after those two losses, Coach P talks fondly about the experience. “We saw our team fight and play hard and play great softball. They are proud to be Bears.”
Being a Bear means being open to a community. “As an athlete, you’re put in a limelight … being here has helped me grow as a person. [During home games] you see the T-ball and travel teams [in the stands], and you can tell they want to be like us one day,” said Javorsky.
Bringing Bear pride into softball was also a great way to reconnect with alumni across generations. The team held an alumni event where 40 UNC softball history-makers attended, including Gloria Rodriguez. Rodriguez coached the Bears for eight seasons from 1970-77 and led the Bears to two Final Four finishes. Thanks to the generosity of many alumni and softball fans, UNC’s softball field is named after Rodriguez, recognizing her dedication to women’s sports and paving the way for the Bears that came after.
Today, softball is growing. According to ESPN Press Room, the 2024 season was the most-watched regular season since 2015, with viewership up by 13% from 2023. Viewers are interested in the fast-paced game and the caliber of players. Locally, Greeley is showing up for the Bears. “It’s gotten massive over the last three years. More people are watching softball and enjoying the fast-paced game,” said Coach P.
Even though the Bears aren’t focused on winning, they are proving themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the mound, at the plate and everywhere in between. This coming softball season, root for the Bears and stay rooted in love.
“It is a game. Remember it’s a game and show that love,” said Coach P.
—Brenna Rhiness
