Carol Hutchins

Carol Hutchins, a stalwart of softball coaching, helmed the Michigan Wolverines team from 1985 to 2022. Her tenure was marked by numerous accomplishments, including leading the team to its first NCAA softball championship in 2005. A testament to her leadership, Hutchins' teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament 29 times, spanning each of the last 27 years of her career. Under her guidance, the Wolverines secured 22 Big Ten Conference regular-season titles and 10 Big Ten Tournament championships.

Notably, Hutchins achieved a record of 1,707–555–5, making her the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history. She was the first softball coach to reach the 1,700 wins milestone. Beyond her remarkable record, Hutchins has been recognized for her coaching prowess with numerous accolades. She has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year 18 times, an NFCA Regional Coach of the Year nine times, and NFCA National Coach of the Year twice.

Her substantial contributions to softball extend beyond her time at Michigan. In 2005, Hutchins served as an assistant coach for the USA Women's Softball and USA Women's Softball Elite Team. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2006, the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, and the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame in 2022.