Margie Wright
Encyclopedia
Margie Wright is a college softball
coach. She has been the head softball coach at California State University, Fresno
—more commonly known as Fresno State—since 1986. 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.
, 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.
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, 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
.
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."
. 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.
in 2000. 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."
Wright has also been inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame and the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
coach. She has been the head softball coach at California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
—more commonly known as Fresno State—since 1986. She led the Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno State Bulldogs
The Fresno State Bulldogs represent California State University, Fresno in 19 NCAA Division I sports. The teams have been members of the Western Athletic Conference since 1992. Before that, it had been a member of the Big West Conference since 1969...
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
National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
in 2000 and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
Athlete
Wright grew up in Warrensburg, IllinoisWarrensburg, Illinois
Warrensburg is a village in Macon County, Illinois, United States whose population was 1,289 at the 2000 census, and 1,160 in 2009.It is included in the Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
, and attended Illinois State University
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
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.
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.Fresno State
In 1985, Wright was hired by California State University, Fresno as its head softball coach, a position she has held for 25 years. She led Fresno State to a national championship in 1998, the first national championship won by Fresno State in any team sport. As of 2009, she had coached 53 All-Americans, 16 Academic All-Americans, 11 NCAA team statistical champions, eight professionals, and 15 Olympians.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, 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
Augie Garrido
August Edmun Garrido, Jr. is a coach in NCAA Division I college baseball. As of June 12, 2011, Garrido has compiled a record of 1,817 wins, 823 losses, and 8 ties. He is currently in his 43rd season of collegiate coaching...
.
Wright's significant career milestones include:
- In March 1980, she won her first game as a head coach by a score of 6-0 over New Mexico.
- In March 1992, she achieved her 500th career victory with a 2-1 win over ArizonaArizona Wildcats-Athletic program:The University of Arizona participates in the NCAA's Division I-A in the Pacific-12 Conference Arizona participates in the conference's South Division, along with Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, and Utah...
. - In March 2000, she broke Judi GarmanJudi GarmanJudi Garman is a former college softball coach. She was the head softball coach at Cal State Fullerton from 1980 to 1999 and led Fullerton to the 1986 Women's College World Series championship...
's mark as the all-time winningest softball coach with caeer victory No. 914, a 1-0 win over OklahomaOklahoma SoonersThe University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
. - In March 2002, she became the first softball coach to amass 1,000 wins with a 5-3 win over Boston UniversityBoston UniversityBoston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
. - In May 2008, she achieved her 1,300th win by a score of 3-2 against New Mexico StateNew Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
. - In February 2010, Wright achieved her 600th win at Fresno State's home field, Bulldog Diamond.
- In May 2010, she took Fresno State to a record 29th straight NCAA softball tournament, ultimately losing to the 2010 national championship team from UCLA.
Wright has become a popular figure in the Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
community and was inducted into the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Interviewed by the USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
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."
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 Olympics1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. 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.
Hall of fame inductions
Wright was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameNational Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
in 2000. 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
Billie Jean King
Billie Jean King is a former professional tennis player from the United States. She won 12 Grand Slam singles titles, 16 Grand Slam women's doubles titles, and 11 Grand Slam mixed doubles titles. King has been an advocate against sexism in sports and society...
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."
Wright has also been inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame and the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame.
See also
- National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameNational Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameThe National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
- List of college softball coaches with 800 career wins