Introducing the 2026 Fort Worth-area Softball Coach of the Year
Introducing the 2026 Fort Worth-area High School Softball Coach of the Year: White Settlement Brewer’s Josh Richards.
Richards, also the girls athletic coordinator at Brewer High School, led the Bears to the Class 5A Division II state championship game, where they fell 6-5 to Lake Creek. In a breakthrough season, Brewer made its first state semifinal and final appearances.
Brewer became the first school located in Fort Worth in the history of University Interscholastic League softball to make a state final.
They finished 9-3 in one of Texas’ toughest districts and found a groove in the postseason, sweeping through the regional semifinals. Brewer was challenged by Abilene Wylie in the regional finals but an 11-3 Game 3 victory extended its season.
The Bears’ had a relatively young roster with five underclassmen starters, showing experience beyond their years under Richards’ guidance. With a flurry of productive returners, they’ll have the talent and knowledge to continue the success in the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
Editor’s note: The 2026 All-Area Softball individual awards will be released Wednesday, and the full 2026 Fort Worth All-Area Team will be revealed Thursday.
This story was originally published June 23, 2026 at 1:35 PM.
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