Margie Wright

Margie Wright
Sport(s) Softball
Biographical details
Born December 28, 1952
Playing career
1973–1974 Illinois State
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1980–1985
1986–2012		 Illinois State
Fresno State
Head coaching record
Overall 1,386–500–3

Margie Wright (born December 28, 1952) 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 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.

Athlete

Wright grew up in Warrensburg, Illinois,[1] and attended Illinois State University where she was a pitcher for the 1973 Illinois State softball team that was the national runner up team at the AIAW College World Series.[2] Wright also pitched for the St.Louis Hummers in the women's professional softball league.

Coaching career

Illinois State

Wright graduated from Illinois State in 1974 and became the head softball coach at the school in 1979. In six years at Illinois State, Wright compiled a record of 163 wins, 92 losses, and 2 ties, including a 40-win season in 1981.[3]

Fresno State

In 1985, Wright was hired by California State University, Fresno as its head softball coach, a position she has held for over 25 years. She led Fresno State to a national championship in 1998,[4] the first national championship won by Fresno State in any team sport.[5] As of 2009, she had coached 53 All-Americans, 16 Academic All-Americans, 11 NCAA team statistical champions, eight professionals, and 15 Olympians.[1]

In 31 years as a head softball coach, Wright has compiled a record of 1,386 wins, 500 losses and 3 ties. She is the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach,[2][6] and also ranks second all-time in career victories among NCAA Division I coaches in all sports, trailing only Texas Longhorns baseball coach (and Fresno State alumnus) Augie Garrido.[7]

Wright's significant career milestones include:

Wright has become a popular figure in the Fresno community and was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Interviewed by the USA Today in May 2000, Wright said, "The city is great. I do a lot of speaking engagements out in the community, and I guess the people like what they hear. Certainly, if you're successful, they'll come out and support you."[14]

Bulldog Diamond was renamed Margie Wright Diamond by Fresno State on May 3, 2014 in her honor. http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/020300aab.html

Team USA

Wright served as an assistant coach on the United States women's softball team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[6] She was the head coach of the United States women's national softball team that won a gold medal at the 1998 International Softball Federation Women's World Championship.[5]

Wheatland Athletic Association

Wright now serves as Director of Player Development for the Wheatland Spikes, a premier youth fastpitch softball program located in Aurora, Illinois.

Hall of fame inductions

Wright was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000.[6] In 2001, she became the third softball individual to be inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in New York. The International Women's Sports Hall of Fame was established by Billie Jean King in 1974 and honors individuals who have achieved outstanding success in athletics and had a significant impact on women's sports. On learning of her induction to the international hall, Wright said, "What I think is so special about this honor is it's not so much about the records and championships, but how someone has affected others through sports. It's an extremely prestigious award, and I'm very humble to receive [it]. It goes to all those athletes who've made life worthwhile."[5]

Wright has also been inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame and the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Bob Fallstrom (2009-01-06). "Coach Margie Wright has the winning touch when it comes to softball". Herald-Review.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Margie Wright profile". Fresno State University. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  3. ↑ "NCAA Career Statistics". NCAA. Retrieved 2010-06-21.
  4. ↑ "RIGHT SPOT AT THE WRIGHT TIME MARGIE WRIGHT FIGHTS THROUGH THE ADVERSITY AND MAKES AN INDELIBLE MARK ON FRESNO'S STORIED ATHLETIC HISTORY". Fresno Bee. 1999-10-29.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bryan-Jon Anteola (2005-10-18). "Fresno's Wright joins elite Hall of Fame". The Fresno Bee. p. A.1.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "NFCA Hall Of Fame - 2000: Margie Wright". NFCA Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2010-06-23.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Margie Wright becomes the NCAA All-Time Winningest Coach: Wright is the second winningest coach in the NCAA in all sports". Fresno State University. 2008-07-02.
  8. ↑ "WRIGHT TIES NCAA WINS RECORD FRESNO STATE SWEEPS TEXAS". Fresno Bee. 2000-03-22.
  9. ↑ "One grand day - A doubleheader sweep gives Margie Wright 1,000 wins". Fresno Bee. 2002-03-13.
  10. ↑ "Career Win 1,300 for Margie Wright". ABC30. 2008-05-03.
  11. ↑ "Morgan Melloh Tosses First Career No-hitter". KSEE 24. 2010-02-14.
  12. ↑ Jeff Davis (2010-05-17). "Ex-'Dogs softball player cites lack of playing time". The Fresno Bee.
  13. ↑ Jeff Davis (2010-05-23). "'Dogs fall to UCLA in softball regional final". The Fresno Bee.
  14. ↑ Eddie Timanus (2000-05-09). "Winning is norm at Fresno State". USA Today. p. 16.C.

External links