Softball Coaches

Sharon Buckus

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:29:14 +0000

Sharon Backus

Sharron Backus (born February 12, 1946) is a former softball player and coach. She played as a shortstop and third baseman on seven Amateur Softball Association national championship teams from 1961 to 1975. She served as the head softball coach at UCLA from 1975 to 1997 and led her teams to nine national collegiate softball championships. At the time of her retirement in 1997, she was the winningest college softball coach in the history of the sport Backus has been inducted into both the National Softball Hall of Fame and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Backus attended Cal State Fullerton and played for 15 years as a shortstop and third baseman in the Amateur Softball Association (“ASA”) from 1961 to 1975. She played on seven ASA championship teams, including the 1961 national championship with the Whittier Gold Sox and five national championships with the Raybestos Brakettes between 1971 and 1975. She also played on two teams that won international crowns. Backus was a second-team All-American in 1961 with the Gold Sox and a first-team All-American in 1964 and 1966 with the Orange, California Lionettes.

UCLA

Backus began her coaching career at UCLA in 1975. She was the head softball coach at UCLA for 23 years from 1975 to 1997 and led the Bruins to nine national championships. Backus was hired as a part-time coach by Judith Holland, UCLA senior associate athletic director. Holland recalled, “I had seen her play, and she was probably one of the best shortstops who ever played the game.”Backus was a physical education teacher at a high school in Anaheim, California when she was hired by UCLA and kept her teaching job for the first couple years after being hired at UCLA. Backus taught in Anaheim in the mornings and drove to UCLA for practice and games in the afternoon. Holland recalled that UCLA paid Backus about $1,500 year as a part-time coach, “and I don’t think the money even paid for her gas.”

In Backus’s first three years at UCLA, the team struggled. Between 1975 and 1977, UCLA compiled a record of 44-20. In the formative years of the program, the Bruins played at city parks, where they were “often bumped from fields by recreational softball leagues.” Backus moved her team to the UCLA intramural field, but it was not until 1980 that her team got its own field.

In 1978, the Bruins won their first national softball championship with a 31-3 record. After women’s softball became an NCAA sport in 1982, Backus’s teams won six of the first nine NCAA softball tournaments.[4] In all, Backus led UCLA to eight NCAA tournament championships (in addition to the 1978 pre-NCAA championship) in 1982 (33-7-2), 1984 (45-6-1), 1985 (41-9), 1988 (53-8), 1989 (48-4), 1990 (62-7), 1992 (54-2), and 1995 (50-6).

From 1988 to 1990, the Bruins won three consecutive NCAA championships and compiled a record of 163-19. Backus’s success led the Los Angeles Times in 1990 to compare Backus to UCLA’s legendary basketball coach John Wooden: “When you talk about UCLA dynasties, you start with John Wooden, who coached the men’s basketball team to 10 NCAA titles. But Backus has built a dynasty of her own. … In total, the Bruins have won seven national titles, finished second twice and third twice in Backus’ 15 seasons.” Commenting on the pressure and anxiety fostered by success, Backus noted, “John Wooden once said that he wished one national championship to his best friends, but four to his enemies.”

In December 1995, the UCLA women’s softball program was placed on probation after an investigation revealed that UCLA had awarded more scholarships than were permitted under UCLA rules. The Fresno Bee wrote that the penalties “bring shame to college softball and added, “The image of UCLA’s softball program won’t ever be the same. The Bruins got caught. … For two seasons, they went over the scholarship limit, the equivalent of cheating on taxes. Now they must pay.”

Amid an NCAA probe prompted by a Los Angeles Times investigation into UCLA pitcher Tanya Harding, Backus announced her retirement in January 1997 after 21 years as the team’s head coach. Backus compiled a record of 847 wins, 167 losses and 3 ties at UCLA. At the time of her retirement, she was “the winningest college softball coach” in the history of the sport. Backus told the press when she retired, “I’ve had a great career at UCLA, but it’s time for a change. My primary reason for stepping down has to do with the illness and death of my mother in early October. That, plus the ongoing NCAA probe of the softball program have created a level of stress that I feel is best to put behind me at this time.”

Backus coached 29 All-Americans and numerous top players at UCLA, including Dot Richardson, Lisa Fernandez (the first softball player to win the Honda-Broderick Cup as the top female collegiate athlete), Sheila Cornell-Douty, Kerry Dienelt, Debbie Doom, Jennifer Brundage, Tanya Harding, Sue Enquist, Lisa Longaker (three-time All-American), Samantha Ford, Tiffany Boyd, Lorraine Maynez, DeeDee Weiman, Yvonne Gutierrez, Heather Compton, Tracy Compton, Shanna Flynn, Shelly Montgomery, Missy Phillips, Leslie Rover, Monica Tourville, Lisa Richardson, Jan Jeffers, Karen Andrews, Tricia Mang, Alleah Poulson and Jancie Park.

Women’s Pro Fastpitch

In 1998, Backus coached the Orlando Wahoos in the Women’s Pro Fastpitch league. WPF league director Rayla Allison said at the time, “With Sharron, we’ve stepped up the level of professionalism and improved our marketability. Her name will be a big drawing card for fans, players and coaches.” Backus noted that her goals were to attract youngsters to the game and to bolster the league so that it might reach the status of the Women’s National Basketball Association.

Honors and recognition

Backus was inducted into the Amateur Softball Association’s National Softball Hall of Fame in 1985, and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1991.[12] She has also been inducted into the Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame.

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Sharon Backus interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Bob Brock

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:49:46 +0000

Bob Brock

Bob Brock ranks 12th among NCAA Division I active softball head coaches with a record of 938-526-1 in his 24 seasons at Sam Houston, Texas A&M, and Baylor.

He has won three national championships and is a former Women’s Professional Fastpitch League head coach.

Now in his ninth season at his alma mater, Brock has brought the Bearkat program back to its former tradition of excellence. In 2007, he directed Sam Houston State to its first NCAA Division I regional playoff appearance. The Bearkats reached the regional semi-finals by winning the Southland Conference post-season tournament after putting together a 38-26 record, the team’s best season mark in 14 years. Sam Houston has earned an SLC tournament berth six of the past seven years.

Brock was voted 2005 Southland Conference “Coach of the Year” after SHSU finished as runners-up and reached the finals of the post-season tournament.

Two years ago, Brock became the 23rd head coach in NCAA Division I softball history to post more than 900 coaching victories.

When Brock became SHSU head coach in 2002, the program had fallen on hard times. Sam Houston won three national championships (AIAW in 1981, NCAA Division II in 1982, and NIT in 1993) and three Southland titles (1988, 1990, and 1993). But, between 1998 and 2001, the Bearkats finished either ninth or 10th in the league.

Brock quickly turned things around. The 2003 season climaxed with the Kats’ first SLC playoff appearance since 1990. Seeded sixth, SHSU defeated two of the top seeds and finished third. In 2004, the Kats were seeded No. 3 and again reached the semifinals of the post-season tournament. In 2005, the Kats were SLC runners-up and reached the tournament finals, losing 2-0 to McNeese.

After a 2007 runner-up regular season finish, Sam Houston knocked off the No. 1, 3, and 4 seeds to win the SLC post-season title. The Bearkats were the No. 7 seed in the 2008 Southland tournament and reached the semifinals as the No. 6 seed in 2009 event.

Brock came to SHSU after three years as assistant coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers. He helped direct the Vols to their first appearance in the NCAA Regional playoffs.

Brock served as head coach at Baylor from 1980 to 1981 and at Texas A&M from 1982 to 1996. Six times he directed teams to the College World Series, winning national titles in 1982, 1983 and 1987 and finishing as runner-up in 1984 and 1986.

In September, 2006, Brock was inducted into the Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame.

In 1997, he was head coach of the Tampa Bay Firestix in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch League. He joined the University of Tennessee staff in 1999. He also managed his own hitting and pitching clinics in College Station for nine years.

Brock has coached 21 All-Americans, 60 All-Regional honorees and two members on gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Teams. He was honored as National Softball “Coach of the Year” in 1983 and received National Softball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1986, 1987, 1990, and 1991. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice from Sam Houston State in 1969 and his Master’s Degree in criminology from Central Texas University in 1978.

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Mike Candrea

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:31:51 +0000

Mike Candrea

In 2010, Mike Candrea coached his team to the brink of an NCAA title, finishing as the national runner-up at the Women’s College World Series. In the games leading up to the championship, the Wildcats faced four straight elimination games, and won all four. In the face of adversity, with its top two pitchers banged up, Candrea and the 2010 Cats persevered, falling just short of the program’s ninth national championship. There’s no shame in being the nation’s second best team, but make no mistake about it, now that team has had a taste, it makes them that much hungrier to bring an NCAA championship back to Tucson in 2011.

Since 1988, UA has won fewer than five postseason games just once, and has eclipsed the 50-win mark 17 times. In the five years the Wildcats have failed to capture 50 victories, UA has still won at least 41 games. Additionally, the Wildcats have yet to lose 20 games in any of the 21 seasons under Candrea’s watch. The fact Arizona has never lost a score of games is particularly notable, as it compares to some of the giants in collegiate softball. Every Pac-10 team, Arizona notwithstanding, and each of last year’s Women’s College World Series participants have lost 20 or more games as recently as 2003. Forget losing that many in the last eight years, Candrea has never let it happen.
As one would imagine, Candrea is never one to back down from a challenge. On a daily basis he challenges his players, and when it comes to drawing up the schedule of opponents his philosophy is no different. In 2007, for example, UA went 18-9 against teams ranked 16th or better at the time of the game, and had played 14 contests against future WCWS teams during the regular season. In each of the two years prior, UA won 30 games against NCAA Tournament-bound squads.

His teams’ victory total of 67 in 1998, plus 66 wins in 1995, 65 victories in 2001, 64 victories in 1994 and 61 in 1997 are among the top 10 in the NCAA record books. Including a five-season stint as a junior college coach at Central Arizona, Candrea has a career record of 1361-314-2. That computes to victory a phenomenal .812 winning percent of the time.

That proficiency started at Arizona with the hiring of Candrea prior to the 1986 season, the school’s first season in the Pacific-10 Conference. UA finished 27-13-1 that first year, his “worst” record to date. The following year, 1987, the Cats were 42-18 and qualified for their first of 20 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.

Those early years marked the upswing in Candrea’s recruiting skill at the Division I level, and by 1988, the team turned in a 54-18 record and made it to the College World Series for the first time and recorded two WCWS victories. That year, pitcher Teresa Cherry became Candrea’s first UA All-American.

The ensuing years provided more of the same — UA finished 48-19 in 1989 and 49-17 in 1990, placed third and second, respectively, in the tough Pac-10, but still came up short in WCWS play.

The bigger picture jelled in 1991 when things looked somewhat bleak as the Cats finished 11-9 and fourth in conference play — tied for his worst such record. Once in the postseason, a gutty and defensive-oriented UA swept Arizona State in NCAA Regional play in Tempe; then played five games pivotal to the history of Arizona softball, at Oklahoma City in the College World Series. Candrea and the Cats earned their first national championship, beating UCLA 5-1 in the title game.

The program was off and running, and Tucson became a destination for many of the best young players in the game, finishing the decade of the 1990s with 523 victories against 75 losses. Other national championships followed – 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2006 and 2007. Following each of the titles in 1994, 1996,1997 and 2007 Candrea was named National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year.

Candrea knows you don’t win games without players. A succession of top-level players — sluggers, hitters, dominant pitchers, Olympians — has kept Arizona at the top. For 18 consecutive years, at least two of Candrea’s players earned All-America honors in voting by the coaches association.

Four times it was six players — the only times that many players from one team have been picked. In 1994, 1995 and 1998, the six selections were all first-team All-Americans. In 1997, all five Arizona honorees were first-team players, as were the four selected in 2004.

In a time that academics all too often find themselves a distant second to athletics, Candrea has stressed hitting the books as well — with Autumn Champion (2006, second team), Leah O’Brien (first team in 1994, 1995 and 1997), Jenny Dalton (first team in 1996, second team in 1995) and Nancy Evans (1998) earning Academic All-America honors.

Candrea is sought out by softball and baseball coaches around the country and has delivered instructional clinics throughout the nation. He is particularly known for hitting techniques, team fielding drills and squad motivational preparation. In recent years, he has consulted with major league baseball stars and other learned technicians to conduct national hitting clinics, and he participates in dozens of such sessions to help improve the way softball is taught and played. He has written several books and produced a number of videotapes on various softball subjects and has designed specific practice aids and equipment that are widely used at various levels of play.

Still, just watching him work with a hitter, some balls and a batting tee show the true value of his coaching: he loves to teach. He enjoys the work, is able to communicate and uses an encouraging but firm style. His pre-game infield drill is an example. It’s a smooth, fast-paced warm up that’s done exactly the same each time.

Candrea’s style of play, public comportment and the consistent winning puts Wildcat fans in the stands at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. Last year, the Wildcats drew a nation-leading average of 2,458 fans per game and had a season-high 2,895 witnesses to Arizona’s 11-2 win over California on April 18. The Wildcat faithful have led the country in home attendance per game in two of the last three years and have earned the distinction eight times since the stadium’s opening in 1993.

Candrea began his softball coaching career at Central Arizona College from 1981-85. His team won consecutive NCAA World Series in his final two seasons, earning him national coach the year honors each time. Prior to coaching softball, he was an assistant baseball coach at Central from 1976-80. On January 18, 2009, Candrea was inducted into the inaugural CAC Hall of Fame Class.

A baseball player at Central, Candrea’s playing career was cut short by an elbow injury. He earned an associate’s degree at Central in 1975, a bachelor’s degree at Arizona State in 1978 and a master’s degree from ASU in 1980.

Candrea was married to the former Sue Ellen Hudson for 28 years until her tragic death in July 2004, just 10 days prior to the Olympic Games.

Candrea has a son Mikel, 31, and daughter Michelle, 28, in addition to stepsons Ryan, 23 and Sean Tilton, 20. Mikel, a 2004 Arizona graduate, had worked with the baseball team and strength and conditioning programs prior to his graduation. He is currently in his fouth year as an assistant softball coach at University of the Pacific. Michelle celebrated the birth of her son, Jaylen Mikel, on Oct. 27, 2005. Jaylen is Candrea’s first grandchild. Both Ryan and Sean are students at The University of Arizona, and Ryan works as a personal trainer.

On Dec. 30, 2006, Candrea wed the former Tina Tilton at The Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa in Tucson.

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Sue Enquist

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:30:15 +0000

Sue Enquist

The 2006 season was Sue Enquist’s 18th and final campaign as head coach of the Bruin softball program. It was her 27th year as part of UCLA’s softball coaching staff and her 30th year of involvement with the program as either a coach or player.

It was Enquist’s 10th season as the sole head coach for the Bruins. Enquist took over that role beginning with the 1997 season, following the retirement of longtime Bruin mentor Sharron Backus. The two served as co-head coaches from 1989-96.

Before being named co-head coach, Enquist coached nine seasons (1980-88) as an assistant under Backus. As a student-athlete playing for Backus, Enquist led UCLA to its first National Championship in softball, a 1978 AIAW title. Enquist was the tournament’s leading hitter as UCLA won its first softball National Championship.

Enquist then served as a member of the UCLA coaching staff for 10 NCAA Championships, the most of any school. The NCAA brought women’s sports under its umbrella beginning with the 1981-82 academic year. UCLA won that inaugural NCAA softball championship, and has since played in a record 17 championship games or series, winning titles in 1982, ’84, ’85, ’88, ’89, ’90, ’92, ’99, 2003 and ’04

After graduating high school in December of 1974, Enquist went on to play four seasons for Backus from 1975-78, Enquist became the prototypical player for Bruin softball in terms of attitude, desire and will to win. UCLA’s first softball All-American, Enquist led the Bruins in doubles three times and twice led UCLA in batting average and triples.

Enquist established the UCLA career batting average record with an impressive .401 mark, and was the first Bruin to complete her career with a batting average over .400. That career batting average record stood for 24 years, until Stacey Nuveman completed her illustrious career in 2002. Enquist’s No. 6 jersey was retired on April 29, 2000, becoming the third number in Bruin softball history to be retired, joining the No. 16 of Lisa Fernandez and No. 1 of Dot Richardson.

A three-time ASA All-American for the Raybestos Braketts, Enquist helped lead that team to four ASA National Championships in 1976, ’77, ’78 and ’80. She also enjoyed success as a player at the international level, earning gold medals at three National Sports Festivals, the 1978 World Championships and the 1979 Pan American Games.

Enquist earned her bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from UCLA in 1980. A native of San Clemente, Calif., Enquist surfed professionally from 1979-81 and continues to be an avid surfer. She currently resides in Huntington Beach, Calif.

The following is a list of Enquist’s accomplishments and honors:

• Enquist was awarded the 2004 C. Vivian Stringer Coaching Award by the United States Sports Academy for her accomplishments at UCLA. The award pays tribute to those who have made significant contributions to sports, and is named in honor of C. Vivian Stringer, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer who is the only coach to take three different schools to the Final Four.

• In December, 2005, Enquist was announced as a Hall of Fame Inductee by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

• Enquist and the Bruin coaching staff earned the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Coaching Staff of the Year award following the 2004 season. She was also named the National Coach of the Year in 1992.

• The Bruin coaching staff was chosen as the 2000 and 2004 NFCA Pacific Region Coaching Staff of the Year. The Bruin staff also received the Regional honor in 1991 and ’92.

• She is a three-time Pac-10 Coach of the Year, earning the honor in 1995, ’99 and 2006.

• Enquist was the first softball inductee to the UCLA Hall of Fame, as a member of the Class of 1993. There are currently seven Bruin softball players in the Hall of Fame, including Enquist, Debbie Doom, Dot Richardson, Sheila (Cornell) Douty, Tracy Compton, Lisa Longaker and Lisa Fernandez. Former head coach Sharron Backus was inducted in 2001, her first year of eligibility.

• As one of eight softball coaches chosen to work with the U.S. National Team, Enquist was involved in the preparation of the gold medal winning U.S. Olympic Team for the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta, Ga., the inaugural Games for softball as an Olympic medal sport.

• Enquist was the head coach of the 1993 Olympic Festival Championship team, and coached the USA Pre Elite National Team in July, 1994.

• She was also a member of the coaching staff for the gold medal winning 1994 World Championship team, contested in Canada.

• Enquist was among the list of “20th Century Bruins” put together by UCLA Magazine at the close of 1999.

• During Enquist’s tenure as co-head coach and head coach (1989-2006), 32 players earned 58 All-American honors.

• Enquist was UCLA’s first All-American, earning the honor in 1978 after being named All-Region in 1976, ’77 and ’78.

• Seven former Bruins participated with the gold medal-winning 2000 U.S. Olympic Team. All seven (Christie Ambrosi, Jennifer Brundage, Sheila Cornell Douty, Lisa Fernandez, Stacey Nuveman, Dot Richardson and alternate Amanda Freed) were coached by Enquist during their UCLA careers.

• Five Bruins, again all coached by Enquist, won gold medals at the Athens Olympics in 2004, including Fernandez, Freed, Tairia (Mims) Flowers, Nuveman, and Natasha Watley.

• All of UCLA’s current coaches (head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, assistants Lisa Fernandez and Gina Vecchione and volunteer assistant Natasha Watley) are UCLA graduates and were coached by Enquist during their Bruin careers.

• Completed a series of 20 instructional videos, released following the 2003 collegiate season.

• Partnered with former UCLA and MLB catcher and current Detroit Tigers hitting coach Don Slaught on the RightViewPro hitting instructional software.

• Invented the SB401 training bat and the Kwik-Slide Sliding Wrap

• Inducted into the Capistrano Unified School District Hall of Fame in October, 2000.

• Enquist has 1,314 wins in her Bruin softball career as a player and coach, combined.

Sue Enquist interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Judy Garman

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:26:05 +0000

Judy Garman

Judi Garman (born March 27, 1944) is a former college softball coach. She was the head softball coach at Cal State Fullerton from 1980 to 1999 and led Fullerton to the 1986 Women’s College World Series championship. Before coaching at Fullerton, she was the head coach at Golden West College from 1972 to 1979 and led that school’s softball team to four consecutive national junior college softball championships from 1976 to 1979. When Garman retired in 1999, she was the most successful coach in college softball history.

Garman was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the daughter of a Mennonite minister. As a child, she moved with her family to Kindersley, Saskatchewan, when her father was assigned as the pastor of a small town on the Canadian prairie. Garman played softball and ran track as a girl. She later recalled, “I didn’t know it at the time, but growing up where I did was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. It wasn’t until later that I found out that in most places girls weren’t encouraged to play sports. But where I grew up, and in the family I grew up in, there wasn’t much else to do. If I’d grown up in the United States, I might not have become an athlete or a coach.

Garman graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 1966 and played for two years on the Canadian women’s national softball team. She later moved to California and received a master’s degree from UC Santa Barbara in 1970.

Golden West College

Garman began her head coaching career at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, California. While at Golden West, Garman supervised the construction of a softball complex that was considered one of the best in Southern California. From 1972 to 1979, Garman led the Golden West Rustlers to a record of 211 wins and 40 losses, and won four consecutive national junior college championships from 1975 to 1978.

Cal State Fullerton

In July 1979, Garman was hired as the first softball coach at California State University, Fullerton. Fullerton played its first softball season in 1980 with limited facilities. Garman later recalled that the hardest part about the move was “leaving the beautiful facilities we had built at Golden West and coming over here to start with absolutely nothing. She noted that, in the first season at Fullerton, the right fielder had to learn how to play the sidewalk in front of her, the equipment was stored in a men’s room, and “our electrical source for a pitching machine was an extension cord thrown out the window of the carpentry shop. The 1980 team played home games on three different fields, and Garman was responsible for transporting the equipment and concession supplies to the field in the back of her truck. A friend presented presented her players with homemade buttons that read,
“Garman’s Gypsies.

Despite the limited facilities, Garman quickly built one of the most successful softball programs in the United States. Between 1981 and 1988, she led Fullerton to eight consecutive 50-win seasons, including 59 wins in 1987, 57 wins in 1986, and 56 wins in 1983. She led Cal State Fullerton to the Women’s College World Series championship in 1986. She also led the Titans to four earlier trips to the College World Series, resulting in two second-place and two third-place finishes.

Garman retire as Fullerton’s softball coach after the 1999 season. She was only 45 years old at the time of her retirement and told the Orange County Register that the breast cancer death of her close friend Vicky Larson, a former coach and girls athletic director at Loara High School, was a major factor in her decision. Garman noted, “There’s a lot I still want to do in my life while I’m healthy. This job has become seven days a week, 15 hours a day. I can’t keep up that pace anymore.

Garman compiled a career record of 913 wins, 374 losses and 4 ties at Fullerton.

International coaching

Garman returned to coaching in 2001 as the head coach of the Italian national softball team. She led Italy to the European Championship and a fifth-place finish at the 2002 ISF Women’s World Championship.

Coaching records and Hall of Fame

In March 1996, Garman became the first college softball coach to win 1,000 games (including 211 wins at Golden West) with a 1-0 win over Long Beach State.

With 1,1249 wins in 28 years (913 at the Division I level), Garman was the winningest coach in college softball history at the time of her retirement.Her record for career wins was later broken by Margie Wright.

Garman was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1993. She was also selected as Learning for Life’s Woman of the Year in Sports in 1995.

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Patty Gasso

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:16:42 +0000

Patty Gasso

Now in her 17th season at the University of Oklahoma, head coach Patty Gasso has molded the OU softball program into a national power and permanently placed herself among the elite college softball coaches in the country.

The Sooners have reached the Women’s College World Series five times during her tenure, in the process, advanced to the postseason in each of her previous 16 seasons. The WCWS run began in 2000 when her team won the NCAA National Championship in OU’s first appearance.

Is she the best coach in the history of Oklahoma softball? Undoubtedly.

Is she the greatest coach in Big 12 history? The stats say she is.

Could she be one of the best coaches to ever coach college softball? Each season, she continues to build what is a very strong argument.

Currently in her 21st season as a head coach, Gasso has a career collegiate coaching record of 936-309-2 (.751) and holds an overall record of 774-250-2 (.754) at the University of Oklahoma. She has won more Big 12 games (199-64) than any coach in the league’s history and has twice as many wins as any other coach in OU history. Gasso’s Sooner teams have finished second or higher 12 different times since the inception of the Big 12 in 1996. They have won 75 percent of their Big 12 contests and OU has claimed four Big 12 regular season and four championship titles under her direction.

Numerous Sooner players have prospered under Gasso’s tutelage and garnered national, regional and conference recognition. She has directed 36 All-Americans, 80 All-Region honorees and 107 all-conference selections.

In the Big 12 era, seven Sooners have been named Big 12 Player of the Year, two have been selected as Big 12 Freshman of the Year, one as Big 12 Newcomer and Lauren Eckermann was named OU’s first Big 12 Pitcher of the Year in 2007. In 2010, Amber Flores became the first player in league history to earn Player of the Year honors twice.

In addition, 2005 graduate Heather Scaglione was a two-time Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Savannah Long became the first infielder to earn the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honor in 2008. Lindsey Vandever earned the award in 2010.

The OU softball success under Gasso has also spilled over into the classroom where the Sooners have been honored with 78 academic all-conference honors. Six of those have gone on to become Academic All-Americans, including Lana Moran, the 2000 Academic All-American of the Year.

Gasso and her staff have consistently been recognized for their efforts on and off the field. The staff was awarded three consecutive Speedline/NFCA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year awards from 1999-2001 and received the national honor in 2000. Gasso and staff have claimed the Midwest honor in five of their 15 seasons with the most recent award coming in 2004. In addition, Gasso has been named the Big 12 and Midwest Region Coach of the Year in 1996, 1999 and 2000. She was named the 2009 Big 12 Coach of the Year.

Gasso’s career with the Sooners began in 1995 when she arrived at OU after five successful years at Long Beach City College. Her accomplishments during her tenure at LBCC and since led to Gasso being named to the LBCC Hall of Champions in 2004. Later during the 2004 summer, Gasso was inducted into the inaugural class of the Long Beach City Baseball and Softball Hall of Fame. Her success in her hometown of Long Beach set the foundation for a spectacular career in Norman. Gasso was also inducted into the El Camino City College Hall of Fame in 2000.

In her first season at the helm, the Sooners recorded a 43-23 record, finished second in the conference and reached the regional final. Several Sooners received awards for their play during the 1995 season, including 11 players who garnered all-conference accolades (four on the first team).

Gasso and the Sooners reached new heights in 1996, recording a 50-20 record, a first-ever Big 12 Championship, and another regional final berth. OU dominated the inaugural Big 12 Tournament, putting five players on the all-tournament squad. Pitcher Jill Most was named the tourney MVP.

Gasso’s 1996 squad also became the first team outside of the states of California or Arizona to win the prestigious Pony Tournament. Gasso was recognized by her peers for her team’s performance, earning the Big 12 Coach-of-the-Year award. Again, Sooner players were mentioned as some of the league’s best with 10 players receiving All-Big 12 recognition.

Gasso continued the trend of reaching new heights in 1997 when the team recorded the then-second best record in school history (55-19). The season was highlighted by two impressive 12-game winning streaks that helped the team to a second-place finish in the Big 12. For the fourth consecutive year, OU advanced to a NCAA Regional. It marked the first time in school history that OU hosted the event.

The 1998 season was probably one of Gasso’s best coaching jobs. However, it wasn’t because of the number of wins and losses or the tournaments won by the Sooners. It was due to the fact the team featured six freshmen. Gasso led the young group to a 49-15 record, a second-place conference finish and a No. 1 seed in a NCAA Regional. Five Sooners were named to the all-conference squad and three players were named to the All-Midwest Region team.

In 1999, Gasso led OU to its sixth straight NCAA regional playoff appearance and her team continued to demonstrate that she is one of the top coaches in the country. Along the path to the regional playoffs in Baton Rouge, La., the Sooners seized several awards and honors. For the second time in the three-year history of the Big 12 Conference, OU was crowned regular season champion. The Sooners, who finished with a 40-16 overall record, won the Big 12 with an 11-3 record.

Oklahoma fell just short of its goal, the Women’s College World Series, but the Sooners proved once again that they were a national powerhouse. That year, OU defeated several top-25 teams including Louisiana State, Texas, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas A&M, Missouri and Nebraska. In addition, the Sooners swept the four-game series with state rival Oklahoma State. The last victory against the Cowgirls in the regular season finale clinched the Big 12 title.

Not only were Gasso’s players honored for their accomplishments in 1999, but she was also recognized for her solid coaching effort. Gasso was named the 1999 Big 12 Coach of the Year and joined her staff as the Midwest Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.

The 2000 Sooners won their third Big 12 regular season title since the league began in 1996 and hosted their first NCAA Regional since 1997. Behind an explosive offense and a dominant defense, the Sooners rolled to a 66-8 record and won their final eight games of the season to capture the first softball national championship in school history.

Four Sooners earned All-America honors, with Lisa Carey and Ashli Barrett earning first team recognition. Outfielder Erin Evans and pitcher Stewart were both third team All-Americans and Jennifer Stewart was named the Most Outstanding Player of the WCWS. The accolades rolled in as Gasso was named the Dallas Morning News Big 12 Coach of the Year. She and her staff also earned the Midwest Region Coach of the Year award and Speedline/NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year.

Following the 2000 National Championship season, Gasso’s 2001 squad continued the string of success. The 2001 team went on to match many of the accomplishments of the previous year, including a return trip to the Women’s College World Series, a 50-win season and four All-America selections. The team also established its own successes by compiling a school-record 23-game win streak and the program’s first Big 12 Tournament title since 1996.

In 2002, Oklahoma went 49-16 and 14-2 in the Big 12. Taking their team motto “Triple Threat” to heart, the Sooners swept their third consecutive NCAA Regional and advanced to a third straight Women’s College World Series.

The 2003 squad was led by five seniors and sophomore hurler Kami Keiter. OU reached its fourth consecutive WCWS by becoming the first Sooner squad to claim a regional championship away from Norman. OU ended the season with a 47-14 record and won one game before being eliminated from the 2003 WCWS.

Patty Gasso interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Carol Hutchins

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:03:19 +0000

Carol Hutchins

Wolverine head coach Carol Hutchins is in her 27th season as head softball coach at the University of Michigan, where she has molded the Wolverines into one of the elite programs in college softball. On December 8, 2006, Hutchins was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in recognition of her coaching success and the indelible mark she has left on both Michigan and collegiate softball.

The hall of fame induction kicked off a series of career milestones that would come for Hutchins during the subsequent campaign. On February 28, 2007, she became just the seventh coach in NCAA softball history — and the sixth in Division I — to reach 1,000 career wins when the Wolverines swept a mid-week doubleheader at Florida State (4-3, 3-2). Two months later, on April 29, Michigan picked up a home doubleheader sweep vs. Wisconsin (2-1, 2-0) to net Hutchins her 1,000th career win at Michigan, strengthening her position as U-M’s winningest coach in athletic department history.

Last season, Michigan used powerful hitting and commanding pitching performances to a 49-8 record, its third straight Big Ten Conference title and its sixth consecutive trip to the NCAA Super Regional. U-M is the first program in Big Ten history to capture three consecutive regular-season titles.

“Hutch” has been a part of the Michigan softball program since 1983 when she joined the staff as an assistant coach under Bob DeCarolis. She moved into the head coach position in 1985 and, in each of her 26 head coaching seasons, has continued Michigan’s tradition of softball success. Michigan has never suffered a losing season in all of Hutch’s years with the program.

Hutchins has led the Wolverines to the Women’s College World Series in nine of the last 16 seasons, and, in 2005, the Maize and Blue became the first program east of the Mississippi River to claim the NCAA national championship when it defeated UCLA. Michigan’s record-setting 2005 season was the culmination of two decades of dedication for Hutchins and her current and former players and coaches. In that magical season, Michigan set records in a number of categories, including:

• First softball national championship
• A program-best 65 wins
• A program-best 32 consecutive victories (spanning 47 days, from Feb. 13 to March 30)
• First No. 1 ranking (March 22)
• First No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament
• First victory over a top-ranked opponent (6-2 win over No. 1 Arizona)
• Michigan’s 103 home runs tied for second on the NCAA all-time single-season home run list

The 2005 season took on added significance when Hutchins was selected to be included in a pool of coaches for USA Softball’s Summer Tour. Hutchins helped select both the USA Softball National and Elite teams and was appointed head coach for the Elite Team at the Canada Cup (July 2-10) and made assistant coach for the National Team at the Japan Cup (July 26-August 5). The Elite Team posted a 10-1 record at the Canada Cup to earn the silver medal, while winning the Sendai Series at the Japan Cup.

Hutchins’ squads have also captured 13 Big Ten regular-season titles, 13 NCAA Regional crowns and eight Big Ten Tournament championships. She has earned 11 Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honors, eight NFCA Regional Coach of the Year awards and a pair of NFCA National Coach of the Year honors. The Hutchins-led Michigan coaching staff has garnered Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors in nine of the last 12 seasons (1998, ’99, 2001, ’02, ’04, ’05, ’08, ’09, ’10) and was named Speedline/NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year for the first time in 2005.

Under Hutchins’ guidance, the Michigan softball program has claimed 13 of the last 18 Big Ten regular-season championships and earned trips to 18 NCAA National Championship Tournaments (1992, ’93, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10). U-M advanced to the NCAA Women’s College World Series in 1995, ’96, ’97, ’98, 2001, ’02, ’04. ’05 and ’09. Michigan has finished either first, second or third in the Big Ten Conference standings in 23 of Hutchins’ 26 seasons and has been among the league’s top five teams in each of her head coaching years.

The Wolverines have received 46 total All-America citations under Hutchins, including 14 first-team nods, while 10 have earned Academic All-America accolades. Michigan players have been named Big Ten Player of the Year 14 times, Big Ten Pitcher of the Year 12 times and Big Ten Freshman of the Year 10 times during her coaching tenure. Wolverine players have accumulated 107 Academic All-Big Ten awards, 141 All-Big Ten citations and 93 All-Mideast or All-Great Lakes Region certificates. Four former Hutchins-coached Wolverines — Jenny Allard, Vicki Morrow, Alicia Seegart and Bonnie Tholl — were named to the Big Ten’s All-Decade (1990s) team — the most from any conference school.

Hutchins’ players have excelled at the international level, including medal performances by Samantha Findlay, Tiffany Haas, Jessica Merchant and Jennie Ritter during the 2005 Canada Cup and International Cup. Findlay and Ritter joined Hutchins again in 2006 as the Wolverine trio led the USA squad to gold at the World University Games. Former Michigan players Morrow (1987) and Patti Benedict (1995) were members of U.S. Pan American Games teams, while current Wolverines Maggie Viefhaus and Nikki Nemitz contributed to the Team USA’s gold-medal performance at the 2009 Pan American Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela. Viefhaus also claimed gold with the USA junior team at the 2007 Junior Pan Am Championships in Manaubo, Puerto Rico and again at the 2007 Junior World Championships in Enschede, Netherlands.

Hutchins and the University of Michigan have hosted 16 NCAA Regional Championships (1993, ’95, ’96, ’97, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’02, ’03, ’04, ’05, ’06, ’07, ’08, ’09, ’10) and four Super Regionals (2005, ’08, ’09, ’10), an honor showcasing the Wolverine program, facilities and University on a national level. Michigan captured a regional crown in 12 of those host years.

For the last several years, every season has brought prestigious milestones to coach Hutchins and the U-M program. On March 31, 2000, Hutchins moved to the top of the all-time win list for University of Michigan coaches — female or male — with win No. 638, a 1-0 victory vs. Indiana in the conference season-opening game. Hutchins became the Wolverines’ all-time wins leader among female sport coaches when she posted U-M win No. 600 with a 6-3 victory vs. Minnesota on April 11, 1999. Hutchins added win No. 700 with a 2-1 win over Oakland University on April 3, 2001.

In 2004, the Wolverines posted a ninth-straight 40-win season, advancing to the WCWS for the seventh time in 10 years. During the 2003 season, Hutchins became just the 14th coach in NCAA Division I softball history to reach the 800-win plateau with a 2-1 win over Wisconsin on April 12, 2003. The 2002 Wolverines completed the trifecta as Big Ten regular-season and tournament champions as well as NCAA Regional champs, sending the Maize and Blue to its sixth WCWS.

Before becoming Michigan’s third softball coach, Hutchins spent one year as the head coach at Ferris State University (1982). While at Ferris, she led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Division II National Tournament and was selected Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. Hutchins was an assistant coach at Indiana University (1981) — under legendary coach Gayle Blevins — and at Michigan (1983-84).

A 1979 graduate of Michigan State University, Hutchins displayed her athletic talents in both basketball and softball (1976-79), helping the Spartans to the 1976 Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women National Softball Championship. In 2003, she was chosen as the recipient of the Nell Jackson Award, considered the highest honor the Michigan State Varsity “S” Club can give a female alumna for professional accomplishments and community service. She was also inducted into the Greater Lansing Athletic Hall of Fame in July 2000.

Hutchins holds a master’s degree in physical education from Indiana (1981).

Carol Hutchins interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Clint Myers

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:59:52 +0000

Clint Myers

A coach at various levels in both softball and baseball, Clint Myers came to Tempe by way of 19 highly successful years at Central Arizona College where he compiled an overall record of 887-235 between both softball and baseball. Prior to coaching the baseball team at CAC from 1996-2005, Myers ran the Vaqueros’ softball team, building a record of 481-43 and guiding the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) powerhouse to six national titles, including five in a row (1988-1992), while earning the NJCAA National Coach of the Year honor six times. His teams also captured seven regional titles and nine ACCAC Conference titles.

An inductee into the NJCAA Softball Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Arizona Softball Foundation Hall of Fame in 2001, Myers also was selected as the National Softball Coaches Association (NSCA) regional and National Coach of the Year in 1990, 1991 and 1992. All of Myers’ success and honors led up to him taking over the baseball program at the start of the 1996 season. In his 10 seasons with the team, Myers compiled a record of 406-192 with two appearances in the Junior College World Series in Grand Junction, Colo. The team’s most recent trip culminated with the 2002 national title. The NJCAA National Coach of the Year in 2002, Myers’ teams won the Western District twice (1999, 2002) and finished runner-up three other times (2000, 2001 and 2004). The Vaqueros’ also won ACCAC Conference titles on five occasions (1997, 2001-2004) and were crowned NJCAA Region I champions five times as well (1999-02, 2004).

Prior to his first head coaching jobs on the collegiate level, Myers served as a coach in other capacities, particularly around the state of Arizona. After his playing days, Myers began coaching in the Connie Mack Baseball League as the skipper of the Long Beach Cardinals from 1975-1976. In his two years, the Cardinals posted solid finishes, including the 1975 Connie Mack World Championship and the 1976 runner-up. From there, he made his way back to ASU for one year as he guided the junior varsity team to a 35-9 record while assisting Jim Brock with the varsity squad that placed third at the College World Series. After the CWS, Myers coached at Casa Grande Union High School for three seasons and led the team to league championships in 1977, 1978 and 1979. In his second season at the school, Myers was voted as the Arizona High School Baseball Coach of the Year after his team won the state title. In the fall of 1980, Yavapai College in Prescott, Ariz., came calling and Myers headed north for three years. In his time, his teams again claimed gold, this time in the form of the 1981, 1982 and 1983 Arizona League Championships. Then, in 1983, Myers moved on to Eastern Washington for one season as he attained his M.A. in Education while also serving as an assistant coach. Upon receiving his degree, he returned to Prescott for one year to serve as a supervisor in the Parks and Recreation Department before taking over at CAC.

On the field, Myers got his start playing for Lakewood Senior High School and helped his team to the 1970 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Championship. He then headed east and joined the Sun Devils, playing from 1970 through 1973. With the maroon and gold, Myers was a member of the CWS National Runner-up in both 1972 and 1973 before being drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1973. In the Cardinals’ organization, Myers played three years at the single, double and triple ‘A’ designations before jumping into the coaching ranks following the 1975 season. Myers and his wife Katie have two sons, Casey and Corey. Casey played and starred for the Sun Devils winning the Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Year award in both 2000 and 2001. He is also a volunteer assistant to his father in the ASU Softball program. Corey was the 4th overall pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. In fall of 2006, the Myers family was happy to welcome Corey and his wife Caitlin Myers’ (ASU grad ’04) first child and Coach Myers’ first grandchild, Cole Elijah Myers on September 9. In 2008, another Sun Devil joined the Myers’ family as Corey and Caitlin welcomed their second son, Christian James on October 20.

COACH MYERS IN THE POSTSEASON
2010 (3-2)
@Florida 5, ASU 2 (May 30, 2010 at Gainesville Super Regional)
Florida 8, ASU 0 (May 29, 2010 at Gainesville Super Regional)
ASU 9, LIU 1 (May 23, 2010 at Amherst Regional)
ASU 3, LIU 2 (May 22, 2010 at Amherst Regional)
ASU 6, Boston University 1 (May 21, 2010 at Amherst Regional)
2009 (7-3)
Alabama 6, ASU 2 (May 30, 2009 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
Washington 1, ASU 0 (May 29, 2009 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 7, Missouri 3 (May 28, 2007 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 11, North Dakota State 0 (May 23, 2009 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 3, North Dakota State 0 (May 22, 2009 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 5, LSU 0 (May 17, 2009 at Tempe Regional)
ASU 6, LSU 4 (May 17, 2009 at Tempe Regional)
ASU 7, Cal State Fullerton 0 (May 16, 2009 at Tempe Regional)
LSU 10, ASU 2 (May 16, 2009 at Tempe Regional)
ASU 5, San Diego 0 (May 15, 2009 at Tempe Regional)
2008 National Champions (10-0)
ASU 11, Texas A&M 0 (June 3, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 3, Texas A&M 0 (June 2, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 3, Alabama 1 (June 1, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 4, UCLA 0 (May 30, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 3, Alabama 1 (May 29, 2008 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 9, Northwestern 0 (May 24, 2008 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 3, Northwestern 1 (May 23, 2008 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 8, Hawai’i 0 (May 18, 2008 at Tempe Regional)
ASU 10, Hawai’i 0 (May 17, 2008 at Tempe Regional)
ASU 2, Stony Brook 0 (May 16, 2008 at Tempe Regional)
2007 (5-2)
DePaul 3, ASU 1 (June 2, 2007 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
Northwestern 2, ASU 0 (May 31, 2007 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 7, LSU 4 (May 26, 2007 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 1, LSU 0 (May 25, 2007 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 6, @BYU 3 (May 19, 2007 at Provo Regional)
ASU 7, BYU 1 (May 18, 2007 at Provo Regional)
ASU 2, Southern Utah 1 (May 17, 2007 Provo Regional)
2006 (6-2)
@Tennessee 3, ASU 1 (June 3, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 3, Oregon State 1 (June 3, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
@Texas 2, ASU 0 (June 1, 2006 College World Series at Oklahoma City)
ASU 5, Florida State 1 (May 27, 2006 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 6, Florida State 1 (May 26, 2006 at Tempe Super Regional)
ASU 5, @Penn State 0 (May 21, 2006 at Hempstead Regional)
ASU 2, Hofstra 0 (May 20, 2006 at Hempstead Regional)
ASU 6, Long Island 0 (May 20, 2006 at Hempstead Regional)

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Diane Ninemire

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:55:32 +0000

Diane Ninemire

Since her first year in the dugout in 1988, Diane Ninemire has continually taken the Bears to new heights as one of the winningest and most successful softball programs in the nation.

From 1999-2005, Cal made seven straight trips to the College World Series. With a national championship, nine Women’s College World Series trips, and 22 straight NCAA Regional appearances to her credit, it is no wonder that Cal enters every season as a national contender.

Thanks to a 6-0 victory over Sacramento State on April 7, Ninemire became the ninth coach in the history of Division I softball to notch 1,000 wins. Already the winningest coach – male or female – in all of Cal history for any sport, Ninemire now has a career record of 1,014-496 after leading the Bears to Super Regional play in 2010. She has accumulated the second-most wins in Pac-10 history (1,014).

In addition to posting their 37th consecutive winning record in 2010, the Bears finished 10-11 in the Pac-10 Conference to tie for fourth, which is the highest conference finish since 2003, when the Bears were third. The Bears were one of the seven Pac-10 teams to earn an at-large bid to the postseason, marking their 25th consecutive trip to NCAA tournament, which is the second-longest streak in the nation. Cal shut out the competition at the Columbus Regional, icing Bucknell, Kentucky and Ohio State to win its fifth Regional title since the format was adopted in 2005, before falling to No. 6-seeded Georgia in Athens, Ga.

Since the 1999 season, California is an impressive 571-244, with five 50-win seasons and five 40-win seasons. Over the last six seven seasons, Ninemire’s squad has posted a 312-140 mark.

During Ninemire’s tenure at Cal, 36 All-America, 90 all-region, and 156 all-conference certificates have been issued to Golden Bear athletes. Two of Ninemire’s former players – Michele Granger and Gillian Boxx – were four-time All-Americans and helped the United States win a gold medal as members of the 1996 Olympic Team in Atlanta. Former California Golden Bear Vicky Galindo, whom Ninemire coached, was the most recent Cal softball player named to the 2008 15-member Olympic Team roster.

Prior to the 2009 season, Ninemire was announced as one of three members to be inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s 2009 Hall of Fame class. Ninemire, who joined Frank Cheek of Humboldt State and Bill Edwards of Hofstra, was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec. 11 2009, at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. The 2009 class will bring the NFCA’s Hall of Fame to 50 members.

History was made in 2002 when Ninemire helped direct Cal to its first NCAA Championship at the WCWS with a 6-0 win over the Arizona Wildcats, the first women’s title in Cal athletic program history. The 2002 team set a school record for wins (56), while Jocelyn Forest claimed the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player honor, and Ninemire was chosen as the NFCA National Coach of the Year. Cal became the first Pac-10 team other than UCLA and Arizona to win the softball national title. Forest went undefeated in Cal’s postseason run and completed the WCWS with a 4-0 record, 0.50 earned run average and 33 strikeouts in 28.0 innings.

Ninemire has enjoyed plenty of other memorable moments along her career path. In 2005, Cal won a share of the Pac-10 title (a first for a Ninemire squad) and advanced to its seventh consecutive WCWS. The 2004 version of the Bears were one of Ninemire’s most successful and most decorated groups, as four All-Americans and eight All-Pac-10 selections helped drive Cal to its third consecutive WCWS championship game appearance. In 2001, Cal began the season 32-0 before finishing fifth at the WCWS. Under Ninemire, Cal has also finished third (1999), fifth (1992, 1996) and seventh (2000) at the WCWS.

The 2008 season saw the Golden Bears reach the 40-win plateau for the ninth time in the last 10 years and earn a berth to the NCAA postseason for the 23rd consecutive season. The Bears won the Fresno Regional with a dramatic 7-6 victory over Fresno State in the deciding game to advance to their third Super Regional. Cal had six all-conference performers and three all-regional selections, and set top 10 team records in runs, RBI and hits.

In her 22nd year at the helm of the Bears in 2009, Ninemire guided Cal to the postseason for the 24th consecutive season, the second-longest streak in the nation and the longest in the Pac-10. The Bears won their NCAA Regional at Florida State before falling at top-seeded Florida in the Super Regionals. Over the course of the year, the Bears broke team records for stolen bases (146) and home runs (55).

Prior to becoming head coach, Ninemire served as an assistant for five years at Cal under Donna Terry. Together, the tandem led the Bears to three appearances in the NCAA Tournament, a third-place finish at the 1986 WCWS and the inaugural Pac-10 championship in 1987.

In 2004, Ninemire’s winning reputation was recognized internationally when she was named as an assistant coach to the inaugural Greek Olympic softball team. At home, Ninemire is a past member of the NCAA Pacific Region Advisory Committee and a former chair of the All-American Selection Committee.

Ninemire began her collegiate playing career at Midland Lutheran College (Fremont, Neb.), leading the team to a state championship as a freshman. After one season, she transferred to Nebraska-Omaha, where she played on both the softball and basketball teams for three years. A shortstop and left fielder, Ninemire helped UNO to the 1978 championship and three appearances in the College World Series.

Ninemire graduated from UNO in 1980 and completed her master’s degree in physical education at Texas Woman’s University in 1987. She began her coaching career at TWU in 1980 as Terry’s assistant before heading west to assist Terry and the Golden Bear program in 1983.

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Kelly Inouye-Perez

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:41:51 +0000

Kelly Inouye-Perez

Kelly Inouye-Perez ended her fourth season as the head coach of the UCLA softball program on top of the world, leading the Bruins to the NCAA championship by defeating Arizona in the finals to end the season with a 50-11 mark.

It’s a place she has become accustomed to during her 22 years with the Bruins.

Inouye-Perez now owns a 183-49 career record as the head coach, including back-to-back Pacific-10 Conference Championships

Just the third head coach in UCLA softball history, she officially took over the reins from Sue Enquist in 2007. During her years with the Bruins, she has learned plenty about excellence. Inouye-Perez is a link to four decades of Bruin softball success, joining the UCLA softball program as a freshman in 1989.

Inouye-Perez’s apprenticeship is highlighted by eight NCAA Championships and 10 Pac-10 titles, spending five campaigns as a player and 13 as an assistant coach.

During Inouye-Perez’s 13 seasons (1994-2006) as an assistant coach, UCLA was 617-150-1 (.804) and appeared in the NCAA title game seven times, winning the NCAA Championship in the 1999, 2003, and 2004 seasons. The Bruins also won three Pac-10 titles during that span (1999, 2002, and 2006) and in 2004 the staff was named the National Coaching Staff of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).

Those numbers explain why she can host a Double Dose session with Michigan’s Carol Hutchins where the developing and maintaining of softball excellence is the topic of discussion.

Inouye-Perez’s primary responsibility as an assistant coach was guiding Bruin pitchers and catchers, a list, which includes many of the most honored and recognizable names in collegiate softball. Behind the dish, where Inouye-Perez also starred as a three-time All-Pac-10 honoree during her playing days at UCLA, she helped mold and influence arguably the best catcher in the history of USA Softball in Stacey Nuveman.

Among the UCLA pitchers during her five seasons as a player were Lisa Longaker and Lisa Fernandez, both of whom were named to the NCAA’s 25th Anniversary All-WCWS Team. During her UCLA career, Inouye-Perez played in 22 Women’s College World Series games.

Kelly Inoye-Perez interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Heather Tarr

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:24:55 +0000

In Tarr’s first season at the UW, she led the Huskies to the Super Regional where they fell one game short of advancing to the WCWS. The Huskies’ season came to an end when they lost a three-game series to eventual national champion Michigan in Ann Arbor and finished the year with a No. 14 national ranking.

Seven Huskies earned All-Pac-10 honors, including Kristen Rivera, who was named Co-Pac-10 Player of the Year. Rivera also became the Huskies’ first-ever four-time All-American, earning first team honors as a catcher. Three Washington players earned All-Pacific Region honors and three were named to the Pac-10 All-Academic team for their successes in the classroom.

Washington finished the season with a 35-22 record and finished sixth in the Pac-10 Conference with a 10-11 mark after four teams log-jammed in a tie for first place with 13-8 records.

The Huskies tallied 13 wins over opponents ranked in the top-25, including victories over No. 1 Michigan, No. 3 California and No. 4 Stanford.

Before taking over the Washington program, Tarr had a six-year stint at Pacific, starting as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in April of 2004.

During her six seasons at Pacific, the Tigers posted a 232-124 (.652) overall record and 90-44 (.672) mark in the Big West Conference.

In 2004 Tarr guided the Tigers to a top-20 national batting average. In 2001, she and Pacific head coach Brian Kolze were named the 2001 NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the Tigers to within one win of the Women’s College World Series and a No. 18 final national ranking. That team also finished the season with a .973 fielding percentage, ranking second-best in the country.

Tarr joined Pacific prior to the 1999 season after an outstanding career as a Husky. As a four-year letterwinner, Tarr helped lead the UW to a second place finish at the Women’s College World Series in 1996 and a third place finish in 1997.

She earned various honors while playing softball at Washington. A three-year member of the Pac-10 All-Academic team from 1994-97, she was named to the Pac-10 All-Conference team from 1995-97 and the NFCA All-West Region team in 1996 and 1997.

Tarr also worked at Washington as an undergraduate assistant coach during the 1998 season, helping the Huskies to a third-place finish at the 1998 Women’s College World Series.

In addition to her collegiate experience, Tarr brings experience from the professional level as she spent the summer of 1997 as a member of the Women’s Professional Fastpitch Softball League’s Tampa Bay Fire Stix. She was the league leader in fielding percentage for first basemen and also led the league in walks.

Tarr earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Geography from Washington in 1998. She completed her Masters Degree in Education at Pacific in the fall of 2003. Tarr is a native of Redmond, Wash., and is a graduate of Redmond High School.

Heather Tarr interviewed on The Fastpitch TV Show

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Margie Wright

admin — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 19:04:08 +0000

In her 26th season as head coach of the Fresno State softball program, Margie Wright (Illinois State, 1974) has directed the Bulldogs to a national title (1998) while guiding the program to the NCAA Women’s College World Series 10 times out of the program’s 12 appearances.

As the first NCAA Division I softball coach and 24th overall in NCAA Division I history, regardless of sport, to amass 1,000 Division I career victories and the first to tally 1,300 fastpitch wins, she owns an impressive 25-year school mark of 1,223-408-1 (.750) and a 31-year career record of 1,386-500-3 (.735). While Wright is 80-57 (.586) overall in the postseason, she owns a 26-19 Women’s College World Series ledger that boasts an NCAA title, three national runner-up finishes, three third-place showings and three fifth-place finishes in her 10 appearances.

Having become the NCAA’s all-time winningest softball coach in 2000, the ten-time conference coach of the year boasts 17 outright or shared conference titles, three WAC tournament championships, 10 regional championship crowns while leading Fresno State to 24 consecutive NCAA postseason appearances.

Sporting the most CoSIDA Academic All-Americans at Fresno State, Wright has had at least one academic all-district selection in 19 of her 25 years as the Bulldogs’ head coach. On the Division I softball level, she ranks No. 1 overall among active coaches with 16 selections while the Bulldog softball program is third overall among all Division I softball schools with 18 honorees.

In addition, she has coached 53 All-Americans, 16 Academic All-Americans, four NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Award winners, four Honda Awards Program softball finalists, 16 NCAA individual and 11 NCAA team statistical champions, eight professionals, 15 Olympians, two NCAA Top VIII Award winners and two No. 1 professional draft picks. With 29 conference player/pitcher/freshman of the year selections under her tutelage, the Bulldogs are averaging 49 wins a year while she has made Fresno State one of just five programs in Division I softball to make 10 or more trips to the WCWS.

Entering the 2011 season 14 victories shy of career win No. 1400, Wright has been featured in USA Today (May 9, 2000) and showcased in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” (May 22, 2000) for her stellar accomplishments. She also has been recently featured in two books — She Can Coach! and Celebrating Women Coaches: A Biographical Dictionary.

Wright, who was the first head coach to boast 1,000-plus school and Division I career wins at one school, is the only head coach in the history of the Bulldogs’ softball program to garner region coach of the year honors (seven times) and is the third head coach at Fresno State to be recognized as a National Coach of the Year (1998). While the “New” Bulldog Diamond surpassed the 500,000 fan mark and home attendance broke the 650,000 mark overall in 2009, Wright owns a 621-126-1 (.830) all-time record at Bulldog Diamond.

In the polls, the Bulldogs set a then NCAA-best mark of 178 consecutive weeks nationally ranked when the polls first started in 1983. In addition, the program has ranked among the Top 10 in 154 weeks. Overall, the `Dogs have been in the national polls in 252 of 297 weeks since the NCAA’s first Top 15 poll in 1983. Per attendance, Fresno State continues to be a dominant draw on the NCAA Division I level. Since 1991 when the NCAA has kept official attendance, Fresno State has been the nation’s top attendance in average per date 13 times in 20 years (unofficially 18 times in 25 years) and in total attendance per season 10 times in 20 years (unofficially 15 times in 25 years).

Fresno State is one of the top two NCAA Division I all-time winningest fastpitch programs with 1,407 wins — ahead of UCLA, Florida State, Louisiana-Lafayette, CS Fullerton, California, Michigan, Iowa, Texas A&M and Oklahoma. While owning the NCAA record for 29 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, Fresno State is third all-time in NCAA Tournament wins (88) and World Series appearances (12). In the NCAA polls, Wright has guided the program to a final Top 25 ranking every year except three times (those three years the Bulldogs received votes for a 28th place finish) and 14 final Top 10 rankings.

A highly sought after public speaker who is nationally and internationally renowned as well as published author, Wright is only the third head coach of the Bulldogs’ softball program and is the winningest coach overall at Fresno State.

In the fall of 2008, Wright and her 1998 NCAA National Championship Team were inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. Accepted in the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame as a coach in 1999, she was honored with her 12th hall of fame induction of her career. In addition, four-time USA Olympic softball medalist Laura Berg was inducted as an individual in the fall 2009 class, giving the program seven Fresno Athletic Hall of Famers; all have which have happened under Wright.

In the fall of 2006, Wright was inducted into the Fresno County Women Lawyers. In the spring of 2006, she was inducted with the Moline Sexton Ford women’s major fastpitch team into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame. In October 2005 Wright was inducted into the Women’s Sports Foundation International Hall of Fame. In the fall of 2001, Wright was honored by the California National Organization for Women in addition to being picked as a support runner for the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic Torch Relay.

In the fall of 2000, Wright was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame. In the fall of 1999, she was inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame and the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame. She was also recognized by the National Women’s Political Caucus of Fresno County with the “Promises to Keep Award.” Still further, Wright was honored by the United States Olympic Committee as the 1998 USOC National Coach of the Year in Softball. Personally inducted as a pitcher in 1979, she was again inducted into Illinois State University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 as part of the 1973 ISU national runner-up team at the AIAW College World Series.

On the international stage, Wright led the USA National Team to a gold medal as the head coach at the 1998 ISF World Championship; Team USA captured an unprecedented fourth world title in Japan.

Prior to snagging gold in Japan, Wright took her coaching talents to the 1996 Summer Olympic Games where she served as an assistant coach who was responsible for the pitchers/catchers. Wright helped the first-ever United States’ Olympic Softball Team capture the gold medal in the inaugural year of softball as a medal sport.

All under her tutelage and boasting the most representatives by any college or university, five Bulldogs joined Wright on the 1996 USA Olympic Softball Team and another represented Fresno State on the Puerto Rico team: Laura Berg, Kim Maher, Martha Noffsinger, Julie Smith and Shelly Stokes on Team USA, and Lisa Mize pitched for Team Puerto Rico. On the 2000 USA Softball Olympic gold medal team, three more Bulldogs were members of the USA Women’s National Team with Berg knocking in the winning run and Stokes and Amanda Scott serving as alternates. For the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, two former Bulldogs captured gold (Berg and Lovie Jung) while Vanessa Czarnecki, a member of the Greece Olympic Softball Team, made history as part of the first Greek National Team.

For the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, Berg and Jung, who were members of the U.S. National Team, and Robin Mackin, a member of the Canadian National Team, were former Bulldogs who represented Fresno State on the international stage. With four consecutive Olympic appearances, Berg garnered her fourth straight medal when she, along with Jung, captured silver.

Prior to her arrival at Fresno State, Wright was 163-92-2 (.638) in six years at Illinois State. She guided the Redbirds to the 1981 AIAW Softball College World Series. She also directed ISU to three State championships from 1980-82. In addition, the Redbirds won two Gateway Conference regular-season crowns (1984-85) and a Gateway Conference Tournament title (1985).

While eight Bulldogs have played/coached on the professional level, Scott garnered MVP honors after pitching the NY/NJ Juggernaut to the inaugural 2004 Cowles Cup of the National Pro Fastpitch league. Smith became the first Bulldog to be a head coach and general manager on the pro ranks as she was named to that position for the Juggernaut franchise in January, 2005. Following her was former Bulldog All-America standout Carie Dever, who was named the 2007 NPF Coach of the Year as head coach of the Washington Glory. Still further, in the summer of 2005, four-time All-American and NCAA Top VIII Award winner Jamie Southern pitched the Akron Racers to the 2005 NPF title and helped the Chicago Bandits to the 2008 NPF crown.

In 2010, Fresno State recorded its 33rd consecutive winning season and appeared in its NCAA record-setting 29th consecutive tournament championship. Wright picked up her 1200th school win and her 600th home victory as the Bulldogs set a new single-season home run record (51) en route to a 41-20 overall mark – its 20th 40-win season in school history.

In the WAC, Fresno State finished second with a 15-6 ledger; the Bulldogs have finished either first or second for the 15th consecutive year in league play. Appearing in the national polls for the 28th consecutive year, the Bulldogs reached as high as No. 17 in the polls during the season. In the final polls, Fresno State received votes in the NFCA/USA Today Poll for a 28th place showing while in the USA Softball/ESPN.com Poll the `Dogs also received votes. In addition, Fresno State averaged 1,000-plus fans for the 18th consecutive year and drew more than 10,000 fans for the 23rd straight season. The program also notched its 16th 20-win season at home (22-5) in the last 17 years and 25th overall.

Five Bulldogs garnered all-conference accolades while one, Michelle Moses, went on to garner All-West Region honors.

In 2009, the program captured its 21st conference crown and second WAC Tournament title in three years. Going 38-20 overall, Wright collected her 300th WAC win while guiding the program to its 1,450th victory as the Bulldogs appeared as high as No. 14 in the national polls.

In the final polls, the Bulldogs received votes in both NFCA/USA Today and ESPN.com/USA Softball for a 28th showing. Bulldog Diamond broke the 660,000 fan mark and eclipsed the 500,000 mark at the `new” Bulldog Diamond in 14 years. Hosting the league tournament and winning the championship in 2009, `07 and 1999, Fresno State has served as host to the WAC tournament four times (1999, 2006, 2007 and 2009) as a conference affiliate. Wright picked up her sixth WAC Coach of the Year honor, giving her a total of 10 conference coaching honors.

Individually, southpaw Morgan Melloh finished second in the nation in strikeouts (450) and was ranked among the top 10 in shutouts (No. 5, 17), wins (No. 7, 30) and strikeouts per 7/innings pitched (No. 9, 9.9). She went on to become the fourth NCAA Division I pitcher to throw back-to-back 400 strikeout seasons in her first two years.

The 2008 season saw an underclassmen laden squad compile a 54-13 overall mark, were seeded No. 16 nationally entering NCAA Tournament play and reach as high as the Top 10 nationally in both the USA Today/NFCA and USA Softball/ESPN.com polls. The Bulldogs, who hosted a NCAA Tournament Regional for the 21st time, finished the year with a No. 15 national ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll. Posting its 14th 50-win season under Wright, the `Dogs placed second in the league with a 14-3 mark; they notched the program’s 1,400th overall win against WAC foe Hawai’i. Still further, the 2008 team set a new single season record for best away record (neutral and road) with a 29-6 ledger – breaking the 1999 record in which this team posted a 29-7 away record.

Individually, Melloh was second in the nation in victories all season long en route to establishing three single-season school marks: wins (42), strikeouts (454) and innings pitched (360.2). As the third Bulldog hurler to garner WAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year accolades, she became the ninth Fresno State player to garner conference rookie of the year honors. Winning the WAC’s triple crown (wins, ERA and strikeouts), she captured Second Team All-America honors; thus becoming the sixth Bulldog freshman hurler to be honored as an All-American her first year. Wright collected three personal milestones in 2008 as she notched her 1,100th school win, her 1,300th career victory and her 500th career conference win.

In 2007, Fresno State posted a 47-18 overall record, collected its second WAC Tournament title and finished second in the league with a 15-3 mark while posting a final No. 25 ranking. Eclipsing the 300-win mark at the “new” Bulldog Diamond, Fresno State also collected the program’s 550th conference win. Individually, Wright coached her 1,700th career game against No. 16 Stanford at the NCAA Regional – the Bulldogs won 2-0. Six Bulldogs garnered all-conference honors – tying for the fourth-most selected in a season in school history. Four `Dogs were named to the NCAA All-West Region team while Mackin went on to earn Third Team All-America honors. Still further, two Bulldogs were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VIII team and one went on to capture Second Team Academic All-America honors. By Mackin earning All-America honors academically and athletically, she became the sixth softball player to garner both awards in the same season – a dual feat that has been done 11 times overall by a Bulldog softball player and all 11 times have come under Wright’s guidance.

In 2006, Fresno State captured its third straight WAC title and ninth in 11 years after collecting a 37-19 overall record and a 12-3 league mark while notching a final No. 23 national ranking. Postseason awards saw five Bulldogs honored as All-WAC. Sweeping the WAC Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors, Fresno State swept these three honors for the fourth time in WAC history (2006, `04, 1999 and `98).

Boasting the league’s first three-time WAC Player of the Year selection in Christina Clark, she went on to garner Second Team All-America honors and became the first Bulldog to be a three-time All-American at shortstop. Wrapping up her career by ranking in five NCAA Division I offensive categories, she also would be ranked in 12 Fresno State all-time marks and in 11 WAC career records. As the program’s 18th professional draft pick, Clark would go on to be named to the U.S. Women’s National Team’s World University Games roster.

In 2005, the `Dogs went 43-12 and notched a 17-1 conference record as they undefeated on the road in league action. For postseason awards, Southern was named the WAC’s top female athlete of the year after receiving the Joe Kearney Award. This came on the heels of being named the Fresno State Female Athlete of the Year. As one of just three Bulldogs in school history to be a No. 1 professional draft pick, Southern went on to garner All-America honors both on and off the field. She also became the fourth Bulldog softball player to be a four-time All-American. In the WAC, six `Dogs garnered nine all-conference honors. Southern became the league’s first four-time WAC Pitcher of the Year. She finished a brilliant career by ranking in nine of the 11 all-time NCAA Division I pitching marks as well as being the 10th NCAA Division I pitcher to amass 1,300 career strikeouts and to collect at least 118 career wins. In the final polls, the `Dogs finished No. 15 in the final poll. In addition, Wright became the first Division I head coach to tally 1,000 school and Division I career wins at one school.

In 2004, Fresno State won the WAC title after posting an overall record of 48-20 and 20-4 in league play. The Bulldogs finished with a No. 25 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll and No. 21 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 Poll. The `Dogs had five All-WAC selections, including the WAC Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, respectively. Still further, Clark and Southern were First Team All-Americans while Southern also captured Third Team Academic All-America honors. Clark set the school’s and WAC’s single-season home run record in addition to a new Fresno State career mark in home runs. Southern led the nation in ERA for the second time in her career.

In 2003, the squad finished with an overall mark of 36-22. Finishing second in the WAC with a 14-4 mark, Fresno State had six All-WAC picks as Clark and Southern went on to earn All-America honors. Clark became the 10th freshman overall, and first rookie shortstop, in school history to be an All-American. Fresno State bounced back from its slowest start in school history (5-12) and went 29-8 in its last 37 and 41-10 in its final 41 games. The Bulldogs received votes in the final ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll at the end of the year to place 28th.

In 2002, Wright led the Bulldogs to an unprecedented fifth straight WAC conference title and the first to win six WAC crowns overall. Southern became just the second freshman in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in ERA and the third rookie to notch 400 or more strikeouts in a year. Southern, who was named WAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year, also was a Honda Awards Softball and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist.

As a team, Fresno State was the top defensive squad in the nation after claiming the NCAA statistical champions plaque with a .977 fielding percentage. The Bulldogs posted a final 50-20 overall record and went 18-6 in the WAC while posting a final No. 17 national ranking.

The 2001 season saw Fresno State become the first program in the WAC to win four straight conference crowns. Finishing with a No. 22 national ranking, the Bulldogs posted a 39-19 mark in 2001 and collected a 13-3 WAC worksheet.

In 2000, Wright entered the year as the all-time winningest active coach on NCAA Division I level. Wright became the NCAA’s all-time career win leader on March 5 with a 1-0 victory over Oklahoma. With a final record of 54-14 and a No.10 national ranking, Fresno State was one of only nine schools in the country to post 50 or more wins; the `Dogs also had two NCAA All-Americans and two Academic All-Americans. Scott became the program’s and the university’s first four-time First Team All-American and picked up her second Academic All-America honor. Fresno State again led the nation in team and individual ERA. As the WAC’s Joe Kearney Award winner for the second time as the league’s top female athlete, Scott collected her second straight individual NCAA statistical title with a 0.41 ERA.

Wright took sole possession of second place in NCAA history in all-time career wins in 1999 as Fresno State captured its 12th regional crown. With a final record of 65-10, the Bulldogs finished in a tie for fifth place with Arizona at the WCWS and ranked No. 5 in the final national poll. Winning the WAC with a perfect 24-0 mark, Fresno State boasted the best pitching staff in the country with a 0.51 ERA. The Bulldogs also had two of the top three pitchers in the country, led by national ERA statistical champion Scott (0.24). The `Dogs recorded the second-highest number of wins (65) in the nation and was one of only three schools to post 60 or more victories. Fresno State reset its own NCAA single-season attendance mark (55,746) it established two years prior and recorded 18 new school records. Setting a school record in home wins (36), they also had seven all-conference picks, six all-region, the WAC’s Freshman of the Year for the fourth straight season and five All-Americans.

In 1998, Fresno State captured its first national title by any sport at the 17th WCWS in Oklahoma City, Okla. The Bulldogs, who posted a 7-1 postseason record, entered WCWS play as the seventh seed and defeated No. 1 seed Arizona (1-0), No. 2 seed Nebraska (6-1), No. 3 seed Michigan (8-0, no-hitter in 5 inn.) and No. 4 seed Washington (1-3, 6-1).

The ’98 Bulldogs met top-ranked Arizona in the NCAA championship game. Scott, the WCWS MVP, shut down the Wildcats on three hits and struck out six for her 25th win (14th shutout) while Nina Lindenberg hit the game-winning shot in the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run to give the Fresno State softball program its first national title.

Fresno State posted a final overall record of 52-11, including a 27-0 record at home, and finished No. 1 in the final USA Today/NFCA Top 25 Coaches poll. Four Bulldogs earned All-America honors and six earned All-West Region and All-WAC accolades. And, for the first time at Fresno State, three Bulldogs garnered First Team All-America honors in the same year. Fresno State also boasted the Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year as the team established a new league record in conference wins (28).

Still further, Scott captured the prestigious Joe Kearney Award and became the second Bulldog ever – male or female – to garner the award; she followed in the footsteps of Lindenberg, the university’s first recipient in 1996.

The 1997 Bulldogs made their 10th trip to the WCWS and tied for third with Washington. Wright guided the Bulldogs to a No. 1 ranking for two straight weeks before finishing No. 3 in the final USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll. Four Bulldogs collected All-America honors and one was an Academic All-American. Fresno State shattered its own NCAA attendance marks set in 1996 (34,224) with 51,133 fans for an average of 2,557. Fresno State posted a 55-14 overall record while finishing second in the WAC (23-9).

In 1996, Wright guided the Bulldogs to their first WAC title. Named WAC and West Region Coach of the Year, her squad established a school- and WAC-record 19-game win streak en route to setting/tying 44 records under Wright. Lindenberg set the school and WAC record in batting average (.508), set the NCAA single-season mark in doubles (29) and led the nation in total bases (175). Fresno State finished the season with a 51-11 record, a 24-2 WAC mark and a No. 8 national ranking.

In 1995, the Bulldogs went 50-19 and finished third in the WAC with an 18-8 WAC worksheet. Wright had two first team All-American picks. Ranked in the top five all season long in the national poll, the Bulldogs finished No. 8 in the final poll. The 1994 Bulldogs placed fifth at the WCWS while tying the school record for most All-Americans (5) set in 1990. Ranked in the Top 10 all season, the Bulldogs finished No. 6 in the national rankings after recording a 49-16 record.

The 1993 squad found Fresno State participating in the WAC for the first time, finishing 38-24 overall and 14-10 in the conference for a third place finish. The Bulldogs finished 11th in the national poll.

In 1992, Wright guided the Bulldogs to their sixth consecutive Big West championship in their final year of Big West participation and a sixth straight trip to the WCWS. The team finished the year 52-16 and snagged third place in the World Series for the second straight year en route to a No. 3 final national ranking.

The 1991 Bulldogs collected a 57-11 record, established a then school-record winning percentage of .838. Fresno State finished third in the WCWS following a 13-inning, 5-1 loss to eventual runner-up UCLA. The `Dogs would finish third in the final poll. Wright guided the 1990 Bulldogs to heights never reached in the program’s history as Fresno State led the nation in victories for the second straight year (tying UCLA with 62 wins). She also directed the Bulldogs to a then school-record 62 wins (62-15), a fourth straight Big West Conference Championship (29-7) and a third straight WCWS national runner-up trophy for a No. 2 final national ranking.

In 1989, Wright led Fresno State to its first No. 1 ranking (March 14) before finishing the season ranked No. 3 in the final poll. The 1988 season found Wright guiding the `Dogs to the NCAA championship game and a runner-up finish. With a No. 2 final national ranking, Fresno State collected their second straight regional championship and PCAA championship (29-5) after posting a 55-17 overall record.

Wright captured PCAA and West Region Coach of the Year accolades in 1987 after guiding Fresno State to a 56-16 overall mark, 31-5 in the PCAA and tying defending national champion CS Fullerton for the conference title. The Bulldogs tied for fifth at the WCWS and finished fifth in the final poll.

In Wright’s initial campaign with Fresno State in 1986, she piloted the Bulldogs to a 40-16-1 mark, the NorPac championship and the NorPac tournament title. Her first Bulldog unit also earned the program’s highest national ranking at the time (No. 2 for six weeks) before finishing seventh in the final national poll. Wright garnered Northwest Region and NorPac Coach of the Year honors.

With coaching honors stretching well beyond the city limits of Fresno, Wright had one of her busiest summers ever in 1995. Wright was named to the USA Olympic Softball Team as an assistant coach for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games. In her first official role as an Olympic coach, she helped the USA National Team to a gold medal at the 1995 Superball Classic. Prior to her Olympic announcement, Wright directed the USA Junior National Team to its second world title – only its second international championship title – in Normal, Ill.

In the summer of 1994, Wright helped coach the USA National Team to its third consecutive World Championship title in Newfoundland, Canada. In 1993, Wright was selected as one of eight national team coaches for the quadriennium leading up to the 1996 Olympic Games.

Stretching beyond the U.S. borders, Wright served as an assistant coach of the 1991 USA Pan American gold-medal team. Wright also has served as a coaching consultant for three years for the Netherlands Antilles fastpitch team for men and women in both the Latin American and Pan American Games.

In August of 1989, Wright became the first softball coach to represent the United States Information Agency (USIA) in Czechoslovakia. Traveling to a communist country as a clinician, she conducted clinics in several cities, including the country’s national team.

Serving on the Babe Ruth Advisory Board and a master instructor for the NFCA Masters in Coaching Program, Wright served as a National Governing Body assistant at the 1987 U.S. Olympic Festival and continues to be heavily involved in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. From 1987-90, she served on the All-American Selection Committee and in 1991 she served on the Wilson Sporting Goods Advisory Board.

Originally from Warrensburg, Ill., Wright is a 1974 graduate of Illinois State University, where she was a four-year letterwinner in softball and basketball as well as a three-year letterwinner in field hockey. As a junior, she guided the Redbirds to a second-place finish at the softball nationals and that team was inducted into Illinois State’s Athletic Hall of Fame in September 1998. Upon graduation from ISU, she accepted the head softball coaching duties at Metamora (Ill.) High School, while taking on the head coaching duties in volleyball, track, basketball, and bowling. In 1975, the Amateur Softball Association also named her second team All-American. Wright then became an assistant softball coach and the head volleyball coach at Eastern Illinois University while teaching physical education.

Inducted into the Decatur Athletic Council Hall of Fame in 1997 and into Illinois State’s Athletic Hall of Fame as a player (1979), Wright has played 34 years of softball, including 30 years in the ASA Major Women’s Open Division and three years in the Women’s Professional Softball League (1977-79). Wright pitched for the St. Louis Hummers (WPSL) and was selected as the 1977 International Pro Softball Association’s Rookie of the Year.

MARGIE WRIGHT’S CAREER COACHING RECORD

Year School Overall W L T Pct Conference W L Pct Place
1980 Illinois State 28 9 1 .750
1981 Illinois State 40 12 0 .769
1982 Illinois State 24 19 1 .556
1983 Illinois State 16 16 0 .500
1984 Illinois State 24 18 0 .600 15 3 .833 1st
1985 Illinois State 31 18 0 .65712 4 .750 1st
Totals – 6 Seasons 163 92 2 .638 27 7 .794

Year School Overall W L T Pct Conference W L Pct Place
1986 Fresno State *40 16 1 .710 8 2 .800 T1st
1987 Fresno State 54 16 0 .771 31 5 .861 T1st
1988 Fresno State 55 17 0 .763 29 5 .852 1st
1989 Fresno State 58 14 0 .805 29 7 .806 1st
1990 Fresno State 62 15 0 .805 29 7 .806 1st
1991 Fresno State 57 11 0 .838 31 5 .861 1st
1992 Fresno State 52 16 0 .767 26 10 .722 1st
1993 Fresno State 38 24 0 .613 14 10 .583 3rd
1994 Fresno State 49 16 0 .762 215 .808 3rd
1995 Fresno State50 19 0 .72518 8 .692 3rd
1996 Fresno State 51 11 0 .823 24 2 .923 1st
1997 Fresno State 55 14 0 .80323 9 .719 2nd
1998 Fresno State 52 11 0 .825 28 2 .933 1st
1999 Fresno State 65 10 0 .882 24 0 1.000 1st
2000 Fresno State 54 14 0 .794 16 2 .889 1st
2001 Fresno State39 19 0 .672 13 3 .813 1st
2002 Fresno State 50 20 0 .71418 6 .750 1st
2003 Fresno State36 22 0 .621 14 4 .778 2nd
2004 Fresno State 48 20 0 .706 20 4 .833 1st
2005 Fresno State 43 12 0 .782 17 1 .944 1st
2006 Fresno State 37 19 0 .661 12 3 .800 1st
2007 Fresno State 47 18 0 .723 15 3 .833 2nd
2008 Fresno State54 13 0 .806 14 3 .824 2nd
2009 Fresno State 38 20 0 .655 15 5 .750 1st
FS Totals 25 Seasons 1,223 408 1 .750 504 117 .811

Career 31 Seasons 1,385 500 3 .736 531 124 .810

* Per NCAA, Wright is credited with 38 wins individually as the NCAA does not
includeforfeit wins but do include the forfet wins in the overall team record.

Wright’s Accolades

In 2010 she recorded her 1,200 school victory and became the first coach in the WAC to reach 500 conference wins.

2009 WAC Coach of the Year WAC Regular Season and Tournament Champions First coach to win 300 games in the WAC

2008 First softball coach in NCAA Division I history to capture 1,300th Division I wins Ranks No. 2 all-time in Division I history in career victories regardless of sport Tallied 1,100th school victory Recorded 500th career conference win Coached 1,500th game at Fresno State (W 4-0 vs. New Mexico State) Led program to 27th straight NCAA Tournament appearance Collected 14th 50-win season Hosted 21st NCAA Regional Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame (1998 NCAA Championship Team)

2007 WAC Tournament Champions 450th Career WAC Win Led Bulldogs to 26th Straight NCAA Tournament

2006 WAC championship 1,200th career win Hosted 20th NCAA Regional Led program to 25th straight NCAA postseason appearance Inducted into Illinois ASA Hall of Fame (Moline Sexton Ford Women’s Major Fastpitch) Inducted into Fresno County Women Lawyers Hall of Fame

2005 Inducted into the International Women’s Sports Foundation Hall of Fame on Oct. 17 WAC championship 1,000th school win WAC Coach of the Year

2004 WAC championship 1,100th career victory

2003 Tallied 900th school win

2002 Winters Olympic Support Runner WAC championship First softball coach in NCAA Division I history to notch 1,000 Division I wins 24th NCAA Division I head coach, regardless of sport, to post 1,000 Division I wins

2001 WAC championship WAC Coach of the Year Honored by CANOW Babe Ruth Advisory Board

2000 WAC championship NFCA Hall of Fame NCAA all-time winningest coach

1999 Fifth place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title WAC championship WAC tournament title WAC Co-Coach of the Year West Region Coach of the Year Illinois ASA Hall of Fame Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame “Promises to Keep Award” National Women’s Political Caucus of Fresno County

1998 NCAA Champions – Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title WAC championship NFCA/Speedline National Coach of the Year West Region Coach of the Year WAC Coach of the Year USOC National Coach of the Year in Softball USA Softball head coach at ISF World Championship – gold medal Finalist for USA National Team head coach for 2000 Olympics 1973 Illinois State softball team inducted into ISU’s Athletic Hall of Fame Top 10 Business Women of Fresno

1997 Third place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title Inducted into Decatur (Ill.) Athletic Hall of Fame

1996 West Region Coach of the Year WAC Coach of the Year WAC Championship USA Olympic Assistant Softball Coach – gold medal

1995 USA Junior National Team Head Coach – gold medal USA National Team Assistant Coach at Superball Classic – gold medal USA Softball co-head coach for East Team at U.S. Olympic Festival

1994 Fifth place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title USA National Team Assistant Coach at ISF World Championship – gold medal USA Softball head coach for North Team at U.S. Olympic Festival

1993 USA Softball head coach for West Team at U.S. Olympic Festival Selected as one of eight USA Softball National Team Coaches for the 1996 Quadrinium

1992 Third place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title Big West Conference Championship

1991 Third place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title Big West Conference Championship USA Team Assistant Coach at Pan American Games – gold medal

1990 National runner-up at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title West Region Coach of the Year Big West Coach of the Year Big West Conference Championship

1989 National runner-up at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title Big West Conference Championship First softball coach to represent USIA in Czechoslovakia as a clinician 1988 National runner-up at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title West Region Coach of the Year PCAA Coach of the Year PCAA Championship

1987 Fifth place at Women’s College World Series NCAA regional title West Region Coach of the Year PCAA Coach of the Year PCAA Championship International consultant for Latin American and Pan American Games National Governing Body Assistant at U.S. Olympic Festival 1986 Northwest Region Coach of the Year NorPac Coach of the Year NorPac Championship International consultant for Latin American and Pan American Games

Wright Coaching Milestones
Career Victory No. 1 Illinois State 6, New Mexico 0 (March 8, 1980)
Career Victory No. 100 Illinois State 3, Evansville 0 (April 12, 1983)
Career Victory No. 200 Fresno State 3, Oregon State 0 (May 9, 1986)
Career Victory No. 300 Fresno State 2, Pacific 1 (May 5, 1988)
Career Victory No. 400 Fresno State 2, UC Santa Barbara 0 (March 31, 1990)
Career Victory No. 500 Fresno State 2, Arizona 1 (March 7, 1992)
Career Victory No. 600 Fresno State 3, Arizona 1 (April 26, 1994)
Career Victory No. 700 Fresno State 9, Sacramento State 0 (March 30, 1996)
Career Victory No. 800 Fresno State 10, San Jose State 1 (March 25, 1998)
Career Victory No. 900 Fresno State 10, Kansas 0 (February 11, 2000)
Career Victory No. 914 Fresno State 1, Oklahoma 0 (March 5, 2000)
Career Victory No. 1,000 Fresno State 5, Boston University 3 (March 8, 2002)
Career Victory No. 1,100 Fresno State 8, Long Island 0 (March 16, 2004)
Career Victory No. 1,200 Fresno State 5, Hawai’i 2 (April 22, 2006)
Career Victory No. 1,300 Fresno State 3, New Mexico State 2 (May 2, 2008)

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