U-M Softball Coaches Named Region Staff of the Year
6/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Hutchins, Tholl and Brundage, along with volunteer assistant Lisa Mello, led the Wolverines to their first Women's College World Series appearance since 1998 and fifth in seven years. The Maize and Blue reached the WCWS after winning the NCAA Region 4 title in Tuscaloosa, Ala., which included a 3-2 upset win over host and top seed Alabama on May 19. Michigan followed that victory one day later with a 12-5 win over South Florida in the regional final to earn the WCWS berth.
The Wolverine brain trust also helped lead Michigan to its seventh Big Ten regular-season championship in 10 years as the Wolverines posted a 17-3 Big Ten mark. The conference title earned Michigan the top seed and the right to host the Big Ten Tournament, in which the Maize and Blue finished runner-up to Iowa.
En route to a Big Ten championship and WCWS berth, Hutchins won her 700th career game in a 2-1 win over Oakland on April 3, and coached in her 1,000th career game when the Wolverines beat Maryland 3-0 on March 16. The 2001 season marks the third time the Wolverine coaching has been bestowed with this the honor. The same staff earned the honor in 1999, while Hutchins, Tholl and Kelly Kovach won the distinction in 1998.
Contact: Rich Marion (734) 763-4423
