Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins was bestowed the first-ever honor, as part of the espnW 2016 Impact 25 award program, it was announced Wednesday on espnW.com and the Michigan website.

Hutchins is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history and has the most victories -- 1,484 -- of any NCAA team in any division. She has guided Michigan to the Women's College World Series in 12 of the last 22 seasons and won a national title in 2005, making the Wolverines the first program east of the Mississippi to earn that. Hutchins has been Michigan coach for 33 years.



The Pat Summitt Award will go every year to the coach who "exemplifies the character and courage" of the longtime Tennessee women's basketball coach, who won an NCAA hoops record of 1,098 games. Summitt died in June at age 64 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.



Hutchins, 59, was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame 10 years ago. She has won 19 regular-season Big Ten titles and nine conference tournaments championships. In all, she has led the Wolverines to 24 NCAA tournaments berths, a rate of nearly three out of every four seasons. Hutchins is the winningest coach in Michigan athletic history, regardless of sport or gender.

Last season, Michigan advanced to the Women's College World Series yet again and finished with a 52-7 record. Wolverines infielder Sierra Romero was named the USA Softball college player of the year and later was drafted second in the National Pro Fastpitch draft.

By Marc Raimondi


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