Northern Illinois Huskies softball

Last updated
Northern Illinois Huskies softball
Northern Illinois Huskies softball logo.svg
Founded1959
University Northern Illinois University
Head coachChristina Sutcliffe (7th season)
Conference MAC
Location DeKalb, IL
Home stadium Mary M. Bell Field (Capacity: 600)
Nickname Huskies
ColorsCardinal and black [1]
   
NCAA WCWS appearances
1988
NCAA Tournament appearances
1988, 1996
Conference Tournament championships
1996 (MCC)
Regular Season Conference championships
1988, 1989, 1990 (NSC)
1996 (MCC)
1999, 2000 (MAC)

The Northern Illinois Huskies softball (officially NIU Huskies softball [2] ) team is the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I college softball team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU softball started playing in 1959 and has two NCAA Tournament appearances (1988, 1996) and one appearance in the Women's College World Series (1988). The Huskies are coached by Christina Sutcliffe.

Contents

Season-by-season results

Statistics overview
SeasonCoachOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Mary M. Bell (Independent)(1959–1974)
1959Mary M. Bell 1–1
1960Mary M. Bell 1–0
1961Mary M. Bell 3–1
1962Mary M. Bell 5–0
1963Mary M. Bell 4–1
1964Mary M. Bell 9–0
1965Mary M. Bell 4–2
1966Mary M. Bell 3–2
1967Mary M. Bell 3–3
1968Mary M. Bell 5–3
1969Mary M. Bell 8–2
1970Mary M. Bell 10–1
1971Mary M. Bell 8–4
1972Mary M. Bell 7–4
1973Mary M. Bell 7–7
1974Mary M. Bell 6–6
Mary M. Bell:84–37
L. Anne Payne (Independent)(1975–1976)
1975L. Anne Payne 6–2
1976L. Anne Payne 4–5
L. Anne Payne:10–7
Anne Johnston (Independent)(1977–1979)
1977Anne Johnston 6–4
1978Anne Johnston 16–9
1979Anne Johnston 10–18
Anne Johnston:32–31
Dee Abrahamson (MAC)(1980–1986)
1980Dee Abrahamson 18–19
1981Dee Abrahamson 24–24
1982Dee Abrahamson 39–18–1
1983Dee Abrahamson 15–172–64th
1984Dee Abrahamson 19–158–73rd
1985Dee Abrahamson 30–2110–84th
1986Dee Abrahamson 23–1910–85th
Dee Abrahamson (Independent)(1987–1987)
1987Dee Abrahamson 24–25
Dee Abrahamson (NSC)(1988–1992)
1988Dee Abrahamson 35–113–01st Women's College World Series
1989Dee Abrahamson 38–76–01st
1990Dee Abrahamson 23–19–24–11st
1991Dee Abrahamson 31–2112–62nd
1992Dee Abrahamson 33–25–28–2
Dee Abrahamson (Mid-Con)(1993–1994)
1993Dee Abrahamson 40–1812–42nd
1994Dee Abrahamson 24–289–93rd
Dee Abrahamson:416–287–584–51
Donna Martin (MCC)(1995–1997)
1995Donna Martin 32–2611–7
1996Donna Martin 35–1713–11st NCAA Regional
1997Donna Martin 35–2711–32nd
Donna Martin (MAC)(1998–2007)
1998Donna Martin 33–16–121–6–12nd
1999Donna Martin 35–1922–41st
2000Donna Martin 33–2219–31st
2001Donna Martin 20–3512–123rd
2002Donna Martin 21–2913–83rd
2003Donna Martin 23–21–113–73rd
2004Donna Martin 14–416–186th
2005Donna Martin 24–259–115th
2006Donna Martin 23–2810–124th
2007Donna Martin 22–2810–124th
Donna Martin:350–334–2170–104–1
Lindsay Chouinard (MAC)(2008–2012)
2008Lindsay Chouinard 13–307–134th
2009Lindsay Chouinard 20–3712–103rd
2010Lindsay Chouinard 25–3410–103rd
2011Lindsay Chouinard 26–2713–77th
2012Lindsay Chouinard 19–347–159th
Lindsay Chouinard:103–16249–55
Christina Sutcliffe (MAC)(2013–present)
2013Christina Sutcliffe 27–3114–82nd
2014Christina Sutcliffe 26–3110–122nd
2015Christina Sutcliffe 28–2511–94th
2016Christina Sutcliffe 35–2013–101st (West)
2017Christina Sutcliffe 33–2115–92nd (West)
2018Christina Sutcliffe 24–3211–11
2019Christina Sutcliffe 27–2511–9
Christina Sutcliffe:200–18585–68
Total:1195–1053–7

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Coaching staff

NIU softball head coach Christina Sutcliffe is the seventh head coach in NIU softball program history and took over the program starting with the 2013 season. [4] [5]

Honors

All-Americans

NIU softball has had seven players named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America teams, including three First-Team All-American selections. [3] [6]

YearPlayerTeam
1987 Jill Justin First-Team
1988Jill JustinFirst-Team
1989Jill JustinFirst-Team
1991Julie SextonThird-Team
1993Niki VanHoorewegheThird-Team
1997Tammy PytelThird-Team
2016Emily NaegeleThird-Team

Academic All-Americans

NIU women's SOFTBALL has had 18 players named to CoSIDA Academic All-America teams, including eight First-Team Academic All-American selections. [3] [7]

YearPlayerTeam
1986Sue KauseFirst-Team
1986Amy VeldThird-Team
1987Sue KauseFirst-Team
1987Amy VeldFirst-Team
1987Beth SchraderThird-Team
1988Sue KauseFirst-Team
1988Beth SchraderFirst-Team
1988Laura PetersonSecond-Team
1988Amy VeldSecond-Team
1989Beth SchraderThird-Team
1990Julie SextonFirst-Team
1993Niki VanHoorewegheSecond-Team
1994Niki VanHoorewegheSecond-Team
1995Amy ScharlauFirst-Team
1995Niki VanHoorewegheThird-Team
1998Tammy PytelThird-Team
2006Lindsey LaChianaSecond-Team
2016Emily NaegeleFirst-Team
2021Katie the god KellerFirst-Team

Players of the Year

NIU softball has had two players named Player of the Year by the conference. [3]

YearPlayerConference
1996Kerri Kerber MCC
1999Christy Dalton MAC

Pitchers of the Year

NIU softball has had two players named Pitcher of the Year by the conference. [3]

YearPlayerConference
1996Angie Zuspann MCC
2000Courtney Witvliet MAC

Coaches of the Year

NIU softball has had five head coaches named Coach of the Year by the conference. [3]

YearHead CoachConference
1989Dee Abrahamson NSC
1993Dee Abrahamson Mid-Con
1996Donna Martin MCC
1999Donna Martin MAC
2000Donna MartinMAC

NCAA Statistical Champions

Notable alumni

See also

Related Research Articles

Jenny Louise Topping is an American, former collegiate four-time first team All-American, medal winning Olympian, retired professional All-Star softball player. Topping played college softball at Washington and Cal State Fullerton primarily as a catcher. She is best known for being a member of the United States women's national softball team at the 2004 Summer Olympics that won a gold medal. She also played professionally in the National Pro Fastpitch for the Akron Racers.

The Northwestern Wildcats softball team is an NCAA Division I college softball team and part of the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Sharon J. Drysdale Field in Evanston, Illinois. They have an overall record of 836-629-4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Illinois Huskies</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Northern Illinois University

The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program is made up of seven men's sports and 10 women's sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).

Teresa Wilson is an American, former collegiate softball pitcher and head coach. She played college softball at Missouri from 1980 to 1983. For her years of eligibility in the NCAA Division I, she is the career leader in ERA and WHIP for the Tigers, which also rank top-10 in the NCAA. She served as the softball head coach at Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, and Texas Tech. She was a coach for the Carolina Diamonds and Beijing Eagles of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF).

Marjorie Ann Wright is a former college softball coach. She was the head softball coach at California State University, Fresno—more commonly known as Fresno State—from 1986 to 2012. She led the Fresno State Bulldogs to the NCAA national softball championship in 1998 and is the NCAA's second all-time winningest softball coach. She also ranks second all-time in career victories among NCAA Division I coaches in all sports. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. She retired at the end of the 2012 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charlotte Morgan (softball)</span> American softball coach

Charlotte Lee Morgan is an American former professional softball pitcher and current head coach for Cal State Northridge. She played college softball for Alabama from 2007 to 2010, where she is the career leader for the school in RBIs, also ranking top-15 in the NCAA Division I. She was also named a four-time all-conference honoree and twice named SEC Player of the Year. Morgan was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2010 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, beginning her career with The USSSA Pride based in Kissimmee, Florida, winning a title in 2010. In 2020, Morgan was named the head coach of the California State University, Northridge softball team after previously working at several colleges as a pitching coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona Wildcats softball</span> College softball team

The Arizona Wildcats softball team represents the University of Arizona in NCAA Division I Softball. Having claimed eight national championships, the team is one of the most successful in the history of the sport. It plays its home games at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium in Tucson, AZ. The team was formerly coached by Mike Candrea, who began his UA coaching career in 1986 and announced his retirement on June 8, 2021. He retired as the all time winningest coach in Collegiate softball history with 1,674 wins, more Collegiate national titles with 8 and the fourth most wins of any coach in any NCAA sport.

Chelsea Rae Thomas is an American former collegiate softball pitcher, originally from Pleasantville, Iowa. Thomas pitched for the Missouri Tigers in the Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference; Thomas is the career leader in wins and strikeouts for the school. She ranks top-10 for no hitters (11) and perfect games (3) in the NCAA Division I. Thomas and was drafted #20 in the National Pro Fastpitch and won a title in 2014.

Keilani Johanna Ricketts Tumanuvao is an American softball pitcher for the Oklahoma City Spark. She played college softball at Oklahoma from 2010 to 2013, where she was the starting pitcher and helped to lead the Sooners to the national championship in 2013. As a member of the United States women's national softball team she won 2011 World Cup of Softball. Ricketts currently plays for the USSSA Pride in the National Pro Fastpitch. She is the Sooners career leader in wins and strikeouts. She also ranks for career records in both the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA Division I, where she is one three players to win 100 games with 1,000 strikeouts and hit 50 home runs.

Jill Justin-Coffel is an American, former collegiate NCAA Division I All-American, right-handed hitting softball player, originally from Oak Lawn, Illinois. She played for the Northern Illinois Huskies softball team as an outfielder from 1986–89, partly in the Mid-American Conference and defunct North Star Conference. She and later was a medal-winning member of Team USA softball. She is the 4-year batting average champion for the NCAA and owns nearly all Huskie batting records.

Traci Lynn Conrad is an American softball coach and former softball player. She is a coach with Select Florida Softball and previously served as an assistant coach at Notre Dame. She played professional softball for the Akron Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) league from 1999 to 2000.

The 2015 Auburn Tigers softball team was an American softball team that represented the Auburn University for the 2015 NCAA softball season. In 2014, the Auburn Tigers softball team went 42-19-1 during Clint Myers first season. The Auburn Tigers played their home games at Jane B. Moore Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Illinois Huskies women's volleyball</span> American college womens volleyball team

The Northern Illinois Huskies women's volleyball team is the college volleyball team that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Huskies are coached by Ray Gooden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The Northern Illinois Huskies men's soccer team is the college soccer team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team competed in NIU's full-time home of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) through the 2022 season, after which the conference stopped sponsoring men's soccer. NIU moved that sport to the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) effective with the 2023 season, joining fellow MAC members Bowling Green and Western Michigan in this move. NIU men's soccer started playing in 1962 and has appeared in the NCAA Tournament four times. The Huskies are coached by Ryan Swan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Illinois Huskies women's gymnastics</span>

The Northern Illinois Huskies women's gymnastics team represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois. NIU gymnastics started competing in 1978 and competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU gymnastics has sent one individual participant to the NCAA Women's Gymnastics Championships (1998), two teams to the NCAA Regional Championships, 37 individual participants to the NCAA Regionals, and three individual participants to the AIAW Regionals. The Huskies currently compete at the NIU Convocation Center and are coached by Sam Morreale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Illinois Huskies women's soccer</span> American college soccer team

The Northern Illinois Huskies women's soccer team is the college soccer team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States.

Ashley Deon Charters is an American, former collegiate All-American, retired professional 2-time All-Star right-handed softball infielder, originally from Beaverton, Oregon. She played college softball for the Washington Huskies softball as shortstop and second baseman and was part of the 2009 Women's College World Series championship team of the Pac-12 Conference. She is one of the select NCAA players in the 300 hits, 200 runs and 100 stolen base club. She later played two seasons with Team USA softball. After originally being drafted No. 11 in the National Pro Fastpitch, she went on to join the USSSA Pride and win a title in 2013.

The 1988 NCAA Division I softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began in February 1988. The season progressed through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and concluded with the 1988 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 1988 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament and held in Sunnyvale, California at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, ended on May 29, 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 NCAA Division I softball season</span> College softball in the United States

The 2019 NCAA Division I Softball season, play of college softball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level, began February 7, 2019. The season will progress through the regular season, many conference tournaments and championship series, and will conclude with the 2019 NCAA Division I softball tournament and 2019 Women's College World Series. The Women's College World Series, consisting of the eight remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament will be held annually in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, will end in June 2019.

Melinda Fischer is a retired softball and basketball coach who was active from the 1970s to 2020s. As an AIAW coach, Fischer coached the women's basketball and softball teams at Eastern Illinois University during the 1970s. With Illinois State University, her team reached the second round of the 1981 AIAW National Division I Basketball Championship and the third place game of the 1982 National Women's Invitational Tournament. The following year, her team won the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament and reached the first round of the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament. In 1985, Fischer's team competed in the first round of the NCAA Division I tournament and she received the Coach of the Year for the Gateway Conference.

References

  1. "NIU Athletic Marks Standards Guide" (PDF). July 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2016.
  2. NIU Licensing Style Guide pg. 8
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "NIU Softball Record Book" (PDF).
  4. Christina Sutcliffe Coaching Profile
  5. NIU Softball Coaching Staff
  6. NFCA 2016 All-American Team
  7. 2016 CoSIDA Academic All-America Team