A 16-year veteran softball coach, Todd Mau, will be inducted into the Nebraska Softball Hall of Fame in a ceremony to be held Saturday, Dec. 2, in Hastings.
The induction ceremony, in which four other inductees will join Mau will be at the Lochland Country Club, with the banquet set to start at 6 p.m. at the Hastings club.
Joining Mau in the 2023 induction class are Gary Benson, Duane Cheney, Jeff Drahota, and Dennis Glover.
In nine letters of support for Mau’s induction, each letter had a common theme about Mau, “Coach Mau has always been a selfless, devoted and talented coach. Todd, an incredible player himself, hung up his own cleats to help us get ours dirty,” his youngest daughter, Kesean (Mau) Bundy shared.
Bundy added, “If it is not his technical ability to coach that impresses, his impact personally on his players does. He encouraged all of us to participate in as many extra-curricular activities as we could, because it helped us be better people, and athletes.”
Mau’s oldest daughter, Lakyn added, “If there are three words that I could use to describe Todd as a coach, they would be selfless, giving, and determined.”
The oldest Mau sibling added, “When it comes to the game of softball, things can get pricey between tournaments, equipment, hotels, and fuel. Todd never hesitated to pay for our tournaments, and he made sure we had the best, and safest equipment, and that we always had a place to stay for our tournaments.
Former player Drew Bugher added to what Mau’s daughters shared, “what I consider to be Coach Mau’s most admirable trait is how he has always exhibited a straight-forward coaching style. To be able to teach transparency for the mental and physical aspects of the game of softball was such an aid for me as a young athlete, and I think to many whose path Coach Mau crossed.”
Yet another former player for Mau, Addison Kuta added, “Coach Mau instills life skills like teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, fostering personal growth in addition to athletic prowess.
Kuta added, “Coach Mau prioritizes character development, and several of his players have excelled in their careers and communities, a true testament to Coach Mau’s positive influence.”
Finally, yet another former player, Holly Bower added, “Softball is a simple sport, but the best create layers to the game that others can’t. Todd is a master of this. Todd is always two steps ahead, thinking about how to win a tournament, and not just a game.”
Bower added, “As I get older, and begin to see the game in a different light, I realize this was something I took for granted as a player. Todd has knowledge of the game of softball that most coaches and players aren’t able to attain, it’s hard to put into words.”
“He’s left a lasting impact on numerous young women, and on the game of softball. He coached with intensity and passion for the game that very few individuals have,” Bower noted.
In true Mau fashion, his daughter Kesean summed it up well, “Multiple girls on the team referred to Todd as “pa,” because he genuinely cared and treated us all as his own. He attended his player’s games in other sports, musical events, and now he is attending weddings of his many players.”
Mau’s coaching career record is 366-193. Mau coached teams that have won national championships, multiple state titles which made him one of the most formidable coaches of the game, both on the field, and off the field alike.
Mau was a fastpitch player and sponsor for 17 years, and is currently a high school and college softball umpire.
In his 16 years as a coach, his teams have claimed a national championship, a state championship, two state runner-up finishes, and two third place state tournament finishes. He has also coached teams to two World Series runner-up finishes, and a fourth place finish in the World Series.
