HEAD COACH: CRAIG MONTVIDAS

Coach Montvidas graduated from the University of Hartford and moved to the Netherlands to pursue a career in the Dutch major league baseball (Hoofdklasse). He initially signed with Giants Diemen in 1975, but made his debut with the Kinheim baseball club the next year. During his time playing in Europe, he took on coaching roles, such as coaching the Honkbalclub Allen Weerbaar softball team to an Eerste Klasse (first class) title. He retired from baseball in 1984 and set his focus on coaching softball from that point forward.

Coach Montvidas has earned a reputation as an internationally renowned softball coach, leading the Dutch, Greek, and British softball national teams, supervising the Dutch national softball team, coaching a softball team in Italy, and running clinics in China, Italy, Japan, the Czech Republic, and Botswana. Back in the US, Coach Montvidas was head coach of the Pennsylvania Rebellion of the National Pro Fastpitch League. As a softball coach, Coach Montvidas has turned out many titles and accolades, including five National Club Championships for the Netherlands in 1985, 1987, and 1994 and two for Italy in 2018 and 2019; three European Club Championships for the Netherlands in 1987 and 1994 and one for Italy in 2018; and three consecutive European Championships with the Netherlands National Team in 2009, 2011, and 2013 (tournaments occur every two years).

As head coach of the Honeybees, Coach Montvidas seeks to develop and uplift his players, emphasizing resilience and perseverance. He notes the importance of all people on a team or within a sport.

Coach Montvidas is a member of the World Baseball and Softball Confederation (WBSC) where he serves as a coach commission member and has been a National Fastpitch Coaches Association member since 1994, through which he has a 3 1/2 Star Master Coaching diploma.

ASSISTANT COACH: ZOYA ROBBINS

The Minot Honeybees have added Zoya Robbins, a graduate assistant coach for the South Dakota State Coyotes, to their coaching staff for their inaugural season. Zoya, a Minot State University alumna, returns to Minot after coaching at South Dakota State in 2024 and playing for the Czech Republic’s Arrows of Ostrava in 2022.

“The Minot community is unmatched!” said Zoya, “The community is just one huge family, and I’m happy to go back to the place and people that helped
me kick start my coaching career.” At Minot State, Zoya excelled as a pitcher and an infielder, with notable statistics including 115 strikeouts and a
.953 fielding average. As a batter, she scored 33 RBI and hit six home runs. She earned her criminal justice degree in 2022 and served as a graduate assistant coach in 2023 while pursuing a master’s in sports management.

Zoya believes her ability to connect with players and build relationships is a key strength in her coaching role. With extensive experience as a player and a coach, she is keen to contribute to the Honeybees’ success. She is particularly excited to work alongside Coach Montvidas and anticipates a summer of significant learning and growth. “With it being the first year, I’m looking forward to seeing how the Honeybees impact the Minot community and the softball world,” she concluded. “Of
course winning is on the agenda, bu as a developmental league, at the least, I hope that with Coach Craig’s and my guidance, all these players leave sharper and more confident than when they came.”