Michigan Athletics announced plans to honor one of the university’s legendary coaches.
The Michigan Softball program will honor legendary coach Carol Hutchins by naming its stadium after her. The athletics department announced on Thursday that they would rename the current stadium to Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium.
In the release, the athletic department wrote:
Constructed in 1982 as Varsity Diamond, renamed in 1992 to Alumni Field, and incorporated into the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex in 2007 through numerous upgrades and added amenities, the home of Michigan’s softball will hereafter be designated as Alumni Field at Carol Hutchins Stadium. The venue will continue to reside in the Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex and flanked by the Donald R. Shepherd Softball Center.
Hutchins is one of the greatest coaches in NCAA history. The current coach of the Wolverines, she’s been at the helm for 39 seasons and is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history, according to the release. She has posted 1,707 victories at Michigan.
She led Michigan to the National Championship in the year 2005 and was the National Runner-Up in 2015. The program has been fantastic under Hutchins, who took over in 1985. They have never had a losing season. Michigan has won 22 Big Ten regular-season championships and 10 Big Ten tournament championships. They have made the NCAA Tournament 29 times, the Supers 18 times, and the Women’s College World Series 12 times.
This season, the Wolverines have been a little skittish. They sport a 13-11 record through the team’s first 24 games.
Needless to say, Carol Hutchins earned this honor and will now be celebrated with her name on the stadium. An incredible way to honor a terrific head coach.