Hutchins Named Inaugural Recipient of espnW's Summitt Award
12/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Dec. 13, 2016
BRISTOL, Conn. -- University of Michigan softball head coach Carol Hutchins was named the inaugural recipient of the espnW Pat Summitt Coaching Award, the organization announced in conjunction with its 2016 IMPACT 25 Awards on Tuesday (Dec. 13).
Honoring the legacy of the legendary Tennessee basketball coach, the espnW Pat Summitt Coaching Award was created to recognize annually a coach who "exemplifies the character and courage of Pat Summitt."
The winningest coach in NCAA softball history, Hutchins enters her 33rd season at the helm of the Wolverine softball program. She has led the Wolverines to the Women's College World Series in 12 of the last 22 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 in the championship series. Hutchins' squads have also captured 19 Big Ten regular-season titles and nine Big Ten Tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 24 times (1992-93, '95-2016).
With a career record of 1,484-478-4 over her 33 seasons as a NCAA head coach, Hutchins owns more wins than any other coach -- in any division -- in NCAA softball history. She is also the winningest coach -- male or female -- in Michigan Athletics history. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006.
READ MORE: 2016 espnW Pat Summitt Coaching Award: Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
