Hutchins Inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame
12/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. -- University of Michigan head softball coach Carol Hutchins, who ranks as the winningest coach in the history of U-M athletics, was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame on Friday evening (Dec. 8). The three-member 2006 induction class -- the 16th in the Hall's history, upping the total number of inductees to 38 -- was recognized during a banquet as part of the 2006 NFCA National Convention.
Hutchins |
"Hutch" took the helm of the Wolverine program in 1985 after serving two seasons as an assistant coach under Bob DeCarolis, and has since molded Michigan into a premiere softball power. Over her 22 years as head coach, the Wolverines have never suffered a losing season. In 2005, Hutchins reached the top of the mountain as the Maize and Blue became the first program east of the Mississippi River to claim the NCAA national championship when it defeated UCLA in the Women's College World Series.
During her tenure, U-M has captured 10 Big Ten regular-season titles, nine NCAA Regional crowns and eight Big Ten Tournament championships, and appeared at the Women's College World Series in eight of the last 12 seasons. Hutchins is just the eighth coach in NCAA Division I history to reach 900 career wins, and she sits just 16 wins shy of reaching the 1,000th of her career -- a feat previously attained by only six coaches. Hutchins has earned nine Big Ten Conference Coach of the Year honors, eight NCAA Regional Coach of the Year awards and a pair of NFCA National Coach of the Year honors. In 2005, Michigan claimed the Speedline/NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Wolverines have received 21 All-America citations under Hutchins, while eight have earned Academic All-America accolades. During her coaching tenure, Michigan players have 11 times been named Big Ten Player of the Year, nine times Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and nine times Big Ten Freshman of the Year. U-M players have accumulated 82 Academic All-Big Ten awards, 114 All-Big Ten citations and 72 All-Mideast or All-Great Lakes Region certificates during Hutchins' tenure. Former players Vicki Morrow (1987) and Patti Benedict (1995) were also members of U.S. Pan American Games teams, while four former Hutchins-coached Wolverines were named to the Big Ten's All-Decade (1990's) team, the most from any conference school.
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. Now entering her 22nd year at Michigan with 917 wins, Hutchins boasts 280 wins more than the next winningest U-M coach -- former baseball coach Ray Fisher, who, for 38 years, led his baseball squads to 637 victories.
Also earning inductions to the NFCA Hall of Fame were UCLA head coach Sue Enquist and former Eastern Connecticut state head coach Clyde Washburn.
| Several current and former assistants and former players attended the event (from left): Bonnie Tholl, Jennifer Brundage, Nan Payne, Michelle (Bolster) Gardner, Meghan Doe, Amy Prichard, Kelly (Kovach) Schoenly, Carol Hutchins, Michelle Silver, Lisa Mello, Kellyn Tate, Angie Churchill, Melissa Gentile, Kelsey Kollen, Kathryn Gleason. |
Contact: Leah Howard (734) 763-4423
