Wolverine Coaching Staff Tabbed Top in Great Lakes Region
6/13/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
June 13, 2016
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The University of Michigan softball coaching staff has been named the Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the Year as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) on Monday (June 13). The staff led the Wolverines to a 52-7 overall record, the program's ninth straight Big Ten Conference title and the Wolverines' third Women's College World Series appearance in four seasons.
Michigan's 2016 coaching staff consisted of head coach Carol Hutchins, associate head coach Bonnie Tholl, assistant coach Jennifer Brundage and volunteer assistant coach Alex Lagesse. It is the fourth straight regional coaching honor for the Wolverine quartet and marks the 13th time the Michigan coaching staff has earned the Great Lakes Regional Coaching Staff of the Year distinction (1998-2002, '04-05, '08-10, '13-16) and is the 12th for the core contingent of Hutchins, Tholl and Brundage. U-M was honored with Speedline/NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year accolades in 2005.
Hutchins recently wrapped up her 32nd season at Michigan (1985-2015). She has compiled a career record of 1,484-478-4 and is the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history, breaking the previous record held by former Fresno State coach Margie Wright (1,457) with an 8-0, five-inning decision at Indiana on April 2. A 16-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, Hutchins has guided her players to 63 total All-America citations, including four this season, while 13 Wolverines have earned Academic All-America accolades.
Tholl and Brundage have been Hutchins' primary assistants for the past 18 years, while Tholl recently completed her 23rd overall season with the Wolverines and 14th as associate head coach. A fixture in the first-base coaching box, Tholl was a four-time All-Big Ten shortstop for Michigan (1988-91) and was one of four Wolverine players named to the first Big Ten All-Decade team (1982-92). In Tholl's 23 seasons on the Michigan staff, the Wolverines have made 12 WCWS appearances.
As the Wolverines' pitching coach, Brundage, a former All-American at UCLA and 2000 Olympic gold medalist, guided one of the nation's top staffs again in 2016 with a combined 2.04 ERA, 430 strikeouts and .190 opposing batting average. Lagesse just completed her first season as the volunteer assistant. She was a two-time All-Horizon League honoree as a standout pitching at Valparaiso.
Senior second baseman Sierra Romero, senior centerfielder Sierra Lawrence, sophomore first baseman Tera Blanco and junior RHP Megan Betsa made up the Wolverines' All-America contingent this season. Romero was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I Player of the Year, Honda Sport Award winner and Big Ten Player of the Year, while Betsa was voted Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.
Communications Contact: Leah Howard
