Michigan Wolverines softball

The Michigan Wolverines softball team represents the University of Michigan in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I competition. College softball became a varsity sport at the University of Michigan in 1978. Carol Hutchins has been the head coach since 1985. In 2005, Hutchins' team became the first Division I softball team since 1976 from east of the Mississippi River to win the Women's College World Series.

Michigan Wolverines softball
2020 Michigan Wolverines softball team
Founded1978
UniversityUniversity of Michigan
All-time Record1720–596–5 (.742)
Head coachCarol Hutchins (36th season)
ConferenceBig Ten
LocationAnn Arbor, MI
Home stadiumAlumni Field (Capacity: 2,800[1])
NicknameWolverines
ColorsMaize and Blue[2]
         
NCAA Tournament champions
2005
NCAA WCWS runner-up
2015
NCAA WCWS appearances
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016
AIAW WCWS appearances
1982[3]
NCAA Super Regional appearances
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
NCAA Tournament appearances
1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
Conference Tournament championships
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2015, 2019
Conference championships
1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

History

Soluk years

Gloria Soluk was the first head coach of the Michigan Wolverines softball team. When she was hired by Michigan in 1977, it was as Michigan's women's basketball coach, and there was no softball team. She later recalled, "I was asked to serve as the head coach for the first few seasons in order to get things off the ground."[4] In her three seasons as head coach from 1978 to 1980, the Wolverines compiled a record of 50 wins and 25 losses for a .667 winning percentage.

De Carolis years

Bob De Carolis was the Wolverines second head coach, holding that position from 1980 to 1984. In his four seasons as head coach, the Wolverines compiled a record of 114 wins and 81 losses for a .585 winning percentage. In 1982, De Carolis led Michigan to a first-place finish in the AIAW Regional Championships and a third-place finish in the AIAW Women's College World Series.[3] De Carolis remained on Michigan's athletic department staff until 1998 when he accepted a post with Oregon State University. He has been Oregon State's athletic director since 2002.

Hutchins era

Carol Hutchins became the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines softball team in 1985. When she took over as head coach, Hutchins reportedly "had a tiny salary, an only slightly larger budget, and had to take care of her own field, throwing down lime and riding the lawn tractor."[5] Since Hutchins became Michigan's coach, the team has never had a losing season.[6] Hutchins' teams have also won 19 Big Ten Conference regular-season titles and 18 NCAA regional championships. She has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year on seventeen occasions and National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) National Coach of the Year twice.[7][8]

She led the Michigan softball team to its first NCAA Women's College World Series championship in 2005.[7][9] The decisive game was won in dramatic fashion, with a Samantha Findlay home run in the top of the 10th inning, producing a 4–1 final. The 2005 Michigan Wolverines softball team was the first team from East of the Mississippi River to win the Women's College World Series.[9][10][11] (Hutchins played shortstop for Michigan State when they won the AIAW national championship in 1976.) The Ann Arbor News described the team's accomplishment this way:

"What happened during the past five months might be the most unlikely accomplishment in the history of a storied athletics program, analogous to setting out to win an NCAA hockey title at the University of New Mexico. Then doing it. Now, before you dismiss that as hyperbole, consider a few factors. Like the fact that, because of cold weather, the Wolverines played their first 33 games on the road, roughly half the season. Try doing that in football or basketball. Then there's recruiting. Softball is still a sport dominated by West Coast talent. ... There's a reason no team East of the Mississippi had won an NCAA softball title until now."[9]

After Michigan defeated No. 1 ranked Arizona in March 2005, Hutchins told a reporter, "Yes, there is softball east of the Rockies."[12] The performance of the 2005 team also set Michigan records in several categories:

  • The team's 65 victories was the most in school history;[6]
  • The team recorded 32 consecutive victories between February 13, 2005, and March 30, 2005;[6]
  • The team's 103 home runs tied for the second most in NCAA history.[6]

After winning the World Series, Hutchins and her team visited the White House in July 2005, where they met with President George W. Bush, something Hutchins called "a once-in-a-lifetime experience."[11]

The 2013 team (in blue) in action against Northwestern

In 2006, Hutchins was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame.[13]

In March 2000, Hutchins recorded her 638th win, giving her more career wins than any other coach in University of Michigan history in any sport, male or female.[6] In 2007, she became the seventh coach in NCAA softball history, and the first in any sport at the University of Michigan, to reach 1,000 career wins.[5][6] After winning her 1,000th game, Hutchins told a reporter that her greatest pride did not come from the 1,000 wins, but from her ability to influence how her players look at life, "to get them to work together and to meet standards, to show them they can lead as women."[5] When she was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame, her players presented her with a scrapbook with a note from one saying, "I came here a girl with potential and left here a woman with no limits." Hutchins noted that those 15 words matter more than the 1,000 wins.[5]

In 2009, the Wolverines advanced to the Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. They won the first game against Alabama by a score of 6–1. In their second game, they lost a close game to Florida by a score of 1–0. They were eliminated in a 7–5 loss to Georgia on May 30, 2009.[14]

In 2015, behind the hitting of Sierra Romero and the pitching of Megan Betsa and Haylie Wagner, Michigan won its ninth Big Ten tournament and its eighth consecutive Big Ten regular season championship, and were the 2015 Women's College World Series runner-up.[15]

On October 4, 2017, Hutchins signed a five-year contract extension with the Wolverines.[16]

Coaching history
Years Coach Record %
1975–1976Gloria Soluk49-25.662
1977Bob De Carolis114-81.585
1985–presentCarol Hutchins1,548–493–5.758

Championships

NCAA Women's College World Series National Championships
Season Record Head Coach
200565–7Carol Hutchins

Conference Championships
Season Conference Record Head Coach
1992Big Ten Conference22–6Carol Hutchins
1993Big Ten Conference21–5Carol Hutchins
1995Big Ten Conference22–6Carol Hutchins
1996Big Ten Conference20–4Carol Hutchins
1998Big Ten Conference22–1Carol Hutchins
1999Big Ten Conference21–3Carol Hutchins
2001Big Ten Conference17–3Carol Hutchins
2002Big Ten Conference15–3Carol Hutchins
2004Big Ten Conference17–3Carol Hutchins
2005Big Ten Conference15–2Carol Hutchins
2008Big Ten Conference18–2Carol Hutchins
2009Big Ten Conference17–3Carol Hutchins
2010Big Ten Conference18–1Carol Hutchins
2011Big Ten Conference18–2Carol Hutchins
2012Big Ten Conference18–5Carol Hutchins
2013Big Ten Conference20–2Carol Hutchins
2014Big Ten Conference18–5Carol Hutchins
2015Big Ten Conference21–2Carol Hutchins
2016Big Ten Conference21–2Carol Hutchins
2018Big Ten Conference18–3Carol Hutchins
2019Big Ten Conference22–1Carol Hutchins

Conference Tournament Championships
Season Conference Tournament Location Head Coach
1995Big Ten ConferenceAnn Arbor, MICarol Hutchins
1996Big Ten ConferenceAnn Arbor, MICarol Hutchins
1997Big Ten ConferenceIowa City, IACarol Hutchins
1998Big Ten ConferenceAnn Arbor, MICarol Hutchins
2000Big Ten ConferenceIowa City, IACarol Hutchins
2002Big Ten ConferenceAnn Arbor, MICarol Hutchins
2005Big Ten ConferenceAnn Arbor, MICarol Hutchins
2006Big Ten ConferenceEvanston, ILCarol Hutchins
2015Big Ten ConferenceColumbus, OHCarol Hutchins
2019Big Ten ConferenceBloomington, INCarol Hutchins

Coaching staff
Name Position coached Consecutive season at
Michigan in current position
Carol HutchinsHead coach36th
Bonnie ThollAssociate Head Coach27th
Jennifer BrundageAssistant Coach and Pitching Coach22nd
Mary Beth DennisonAssistant Coach and Volunteer Coach2nd
Kelsey SusallaDirector of Operations1st
Jarrett DeHetreVideo Coordinator2nd
Reference:[17]

Year-by-year results
Main article: List of Michigan Wolverines softball seasons

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the Wolverines.

Year Coach Record Notes
2015Carol Hutchins60–8Women's College World Series Runner-up
2016Carol Hutchins52–7
2017Carol Hutchins43–13–1
2018Carol Hutchins44–13
2019Carol Hutchins45–13Big Ten Tournament Champions

Notable players

Player Awards
NFCA National Player of the Year
Sierra Romero (2016)
USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
Sierra Romero (2016)
espnW National Player of the Year
Sierra Romero (2016)
Honda Sports Award
Sierra Romero (2016)

All-Americans
Alumni Field, the home of the Michigan Wolverines softball team

Michigan has had 18 players selected as NFCA All-Americans.[18]

  • 2018: Meghan Beaubien, at-large pitcher (1st team)
  • 2018: Faith Canfield, at-large 2nd base (3rd team)
  • 2017: Megan Betsa, pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2017: Kelly Christner, outfielder (2nd team)
  • 2017: Faith Canfield, 2nd base (3rd team)
  • 2016: Sierra Lawrence, outfielder (1st team)
  • 2016: Tera Blanco, 1st base (1st team)
  • 2016: Sierra Romero, 2nd base (1st team)
  • 2016: Megan Betsa, pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2015: Kelly Christner, outfielder (1st team)
  • 2015: Sierra Romero, at-large 2nd base (1st team)
  • 2014: Sierra Romero, shortstop (1st team)
  • 2014: Haylie Wagner, at-large pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2013: Sierra Romero, shortstop (2nd team)
  • 2013: Ashley Lane, 2nd base (3rd team)
  • 2011: Amanda Chidester, 3rd base (1st team)
  • 2011: Jordan Taylor, at-large pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2011: Ashley Lane, 2nd base (2nd team)
  • 2011: Bree Evans, outfielder (3rd team)
  • 2009: Nikki Nemitz, at-large pitcher (1st team)
  • 2009: Amanda Chidester, utility non-pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2008: Samantha Findlay, second base (1st team)
  • 2008: Jordan Taylor, pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2008: Alessandra Giampaolo, outfielder (2nd team)
  • 2008: Nikki Nemitz, pitcher (3rd team)
  • 2006: Jennie Ritter, pitcher (1st team)
  • 2006: Becky Marx, catcher (3rd team)
  • 2005: Jennie Ritter, pitcher (1st team)
  • 2005: Jessica Merchant, shortstop (2nd team)
  • 2005: Tiffany Haas, 2nd base (1st team)
  • 2005: Nicole Motycka, designated player (3rd team)
  • 2004: Jessica Merchant, shortstop (2nd team)
  • 2004: Nicole Motycka, pitcher (2nd team)
  • 2004: Tiffany Haas, 2nd base (3rd team)
  • 2003: Marissa Young, utility (2nd team)
  • 2002: Stephanie Volpe, 3rd base (1st team)
  • 2002: Marissa Young, pitcher (3rd team)
  • 2001: Kelsey Kollen, 2nd base (1st team)
  • 2001: Melissa Taylor, outfield (2nd team)
  • 2000: Marissa Young, utility (3rd team)
  • 2000: Stephanie Volpe, designated player (3rd team)
  • 1999: Catherine Davie, outfield (2nd team)
  • 1999: Kelsey Kollen, 2nd base (2nd team)
  • 1999: Traci Conrad, 1st base (3rd team)
  • 1998: Traci Conrad, 1st base (1st team)
  • 1998: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
  • 1998: Melissa Gentile, catcher (2nd team)
  • 1998: Kellyn Tate, outfield (2nd team)
  • 1997: Traci Conrad, at-large (1st team)
  • 1997: Kelly Holmes, at-large (2nd team)
  • 1996: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
  • 1996: Kellyn Tate, outfield (3rd team)
  • 1995: Kelly Kovach, pitcher (1st team)
  • 1995: Sara Griffin, utility (1st team)
  • 1993: Patti Benedict, outfield (1st team)
  • 1992: Patti Benedict, outfield (3rd team)
  • 1989: Jenny Allard, utility (1st team)
  • 1987: Alicia Seegert, catcher (2nd team)
  • 1987: Vicki Morrow, designated player/utility (2nd team)
  • 1986: Alicia Seegert, catcher (1st team)

Athletic Hall of Honor

Big Ten Player of the Year

Big Ten Pitcher of the Year

Big Ten Freshman of the Year

See also

References
  1. Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex: Alumni Field MGoBlue.com: University of Michigan Official Athletic Site.
  2. "University of Michigan Style Guide: Colors". July 7, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2015.
  3. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
  4. John Kerr (October 29, 1980). "Softball coach named". The Michigan Daily.
  5. "A milestone at U-M, a rock for her players: Coach Hutchins sets first-rate standard". Ann Arbor News. 2007-05-03.
  6. "Carol Hutchins, Head Coach: 25th Season". MGoBlue.com. Archived from the original on 2007-05-04.
  7. "Protect The Block 'M': Long-time Michigan Coach Carol Hutchins changed the face of softball in the Big Ten and across the nation with her Wolverine philosophies". Big Ten Conference. 2007-04-03. Archived from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
  8. Paul, Tony (May 9, 2018). "UM's Carol Hutchins is Big Ten coach of year for 17th time in 34 seasons". The Detroit News. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  9. "It can't get much better for Hutchins". Ann Arbor News. 2005-06-12.
  10. Joanne C. Gerstner (2006-02-16). "Softball players bemoan sport's Olympics demise". The Detroit News.
  11. Kevin Wright (2005-09-05). "National Championship marks softball first". The Michigan Daily.
  12. Lou Ponsi (2005-03-21). "Softball: Michigan beats No. 1 Arizona to win Klassic; The fourth-ranked Wolverines win the final of the Fullerton tournament, 6-2". The Orange County Register.
  13. "Hall of Fame: Carol Hutchins". National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19.
  14. "2009 Michigan Softball Schedule". Michigan Softball Archive. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
  15. Mark Snyder (May 11, 2015). "U-M softball steamrolls Big Ten, seeks national title". Detroit Free Press.
  16. Howard, Leah (October 4, 2017). "Hutchins Agrees to Five-Year Contract Extension". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved October 4, 2017.
  17. "Michigan Softball Coaches". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  18. "University of Michigan Softball". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved 2009-12-13.
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