Little League® is excited to announce Dave and Jolene Hoover, parents of 2008 Little League Softball® World Series champion and current Athletes Unlimited Softball League (AUSL) athlete Carley Hoover and her sister Hayley, as the recipients of the 2025 George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year Award.
“One of our most prestigious honors, the George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year Award, celebrates the parents who exemplify the values of Little League who are dedicated to creating a positive and meaningful experience for their children,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Dave and Jolene Hoover are the embodiment of that commitment and a positive example for the millions of parents all around the world who trust in our program. From the start, they prioritized fun, growth, and support in Carley’s Little League journey, ensuring that she not only became a great athlete but a great person.”
Carley’s athletic journey didn’t begin on the diamond – instead, she made her mark on the football field. But when she came to terms with the reality that playing professional football wasn’t in the cards, it was her father who encouraged her to give softball a try.
The Hoovers knew that the Little League program was the best competition for Carley’s age, but access to a Little League team was more than an hour away at the time.
“My dad was super dedicated to getting me to everything,” said Carley. “He took the time to drive me to practices and games around four times a week and on the weekends.”
Dave credits the success of Little League to its dedicated parents and volunteers who come back year after year to make the experience so memorable for each player at each stage in tournament play.
For three years, Hoover’s team from Simpsonville, South Carolina, continued to grow and get better, eventually finding their way to Portland, Oregon, for the Little League Softball World Series in 2008.
Jolene, the winningest volleyball coach in Clemson University history, was able to step aside from coaching for the weekend, board a flight, and travel straight to the field to see Carley pitch in the semifinal and championship games at Alpenrose. While Jolene was not always able to be in the stands, her volleyball team played a major role in Carley’s development as a player.
“A big part of both of our daughters’ success in life, and certainly in sports, was being exposed to Jolene’s team and hanging out with them from time to time,” said Dave. “Not only did they have a great role model in my wife, but they also had great role models looking up to the players that my wife had on her team. They were exposed to big-time athletic environments from a young age, which helped eliminate intimidation or any sense of awe. They always felt like they belonged.”
Dave remembers how many times other coaches noticed that Carley’s pitching speed was something special, especially at her young age. Although it took time to find consistency in the strike zone, which was gained through lessons with local coaches.
At just 13, Carley was already more than six feet tall and knew eventually that a career in sports would work out, but acknowledged that she needed to put the time into the sport to continue to grow. Hoover’s parents encouraged Carley every step of the way and affirmed that she was good enough to keep practicing, as softball did not come as naturally as volleyball, a sport she continued to play competitively through all four years of high school.
While she spent hours on the field practicing, what Carley treasures most about her time on the Little League diamond is the chance to cheer on every single teammate.
“From such a young age, I understood that I truly need everyone to win, no matter what my agenda is; I need everyone on board,” said Carley. ” Learning how to bring out the best in others taught me how to work well with others, appreciate others, and encourage others.”
Dave encourages all parents to make their child’s experience with Little League fun, not only at the games, but also at practices.
“Making little games out of practice, getting ice cream, or something to end it on a good note is important,” said Dave. “We wanted this to be a positive memory and experience for her, so remembering to stay positive was important in her development.”
Another piece of advice from Dave was to encourage these players to stay involved in other sports throughout their baseball or softball journey. He noted that the kids need time off for a couple of months and need a mental break from the sport. Carley continued to play club volleyball all four years in high school and played high school basketball for a few years as well. Her sister, Hayley, also grew up playing softball and volleyball, continuing her volleyball career at Southern Wesleyan University.
“We were just regular parents and wanted the best for our kids. We wanted to expose them to as many positive opportunities and experiences as they could have,” said Dave. “Little League was a huge springboard for that. It let her know early on in her life what’s possible; if you set goals, work, and dream. Getting to the World Series was the biggest dream they had at that age, and they learned many life lessons from each year while having fun and handling adversity.”
Through her years of experience coaching, and time spent with close family friend, and Simpsonville Recreation Director, Robbie Davis, Jolene understands and emphasizes the importance of putting fun above playing time.
“I know this one is hard as a parent, but not to worry about the playing time. You are there to get better, you are there to develop, maybe you aren’t ready yet. What a difference a year makes. Maybe that first baseman is better than you, but that could be you next year, you never know,” said Jolene. “It’s important to remember to have fun as a team, too. I still remember one of the years they were down in Florida. Robbie always made it a point to have fun and take them out to dinner, and he made all of them try frog legs. He picked up from one of the baskets almost a whole frog without the head, and I said, ‘I’m sorry I can’t try that.’ But he was such a fun guy, and he was the entertainment director when we were on these trips.”
After graduating from Louisiana State University, where Carley played four years of collegiate softball, she moved to Japan to continue her career. Then, in January 2025, Carley was drafted in the first round of the inaugural Athletes Unlimited Softball League Draft, moving her back to the United States, allowing Dave, Jolene, and many family friends to watch Carley play softball again closer to home.
Carley wishes that she had AUSL players to look up to when she was younger. Fortunately for her, she still had her parents.
“I felt like my parents went out of their way 24/7 to make whatever my dreams were come true,” said Carley. “I am not me without them.”
Established in 1980, the George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year Award honors the legacy of President George H.W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, who served as dedicated Little League volunteers during their children’s early years in Texas and remained strong supporters of the program throughout the years.
Created to recognize parents of Major League Baseball players who played a meaningful role in their child’s Little League journey, the award criteria were broadened in 2022. Now it honors parents of professional athletes or notable figures across various fields, celebrating the increasingly diverse and multi-sport backgrounds of those who began on the Little League diamond.
The Parents of the Year Award serves as a symbolic tribute to the millions of parents and guardians who, year after year, step up to the plate to support their children and local communities by fostering positive, healthy environments for youth development and leadership. Each year, one set of parents is selected for this honor and recognized during either the Little League Baseball or Little League Softball World Series.
Jolene and Dave Hoover will be honored with the award, alongside their daughter Carley, before the 4 p.m. game on Tuesday, August 5, at the 2025 Little League Softball® World Series, Presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.