Illinois State All-Time Wins Leader Melinda Fischer Announces Retirement

NORMAL, Ill. – The winningest coach in Illinois State Athletics history is calling it a career, as legendary softball coach Melinda Fisher announced her retirement Sunday after 37 seasons at the helm of the Redbird program.
 
Fischer, who has more wins than any coach in ISU history, ends her illustrious career as one of only 28 head coaches in NCAA Division I softball that have won 1,000 games in their coaching career with at least 10 years of Division I head coaching experience.
 
"Melinda Fischer's legacy at Illinois State is forever etched in the history books and the profound impact she has had on our program and countless student-athletes over the years cannot be understated," Illinois State Director of Athletics Kyle Brennan said. "Melinda has not only led our softball program with class and dignity over the past 37 years, but she has been a mentor to so many coaches, staff and administrators over the years helping them grow into the best versions of themselves. She has dedicated her professional life to bettering this University and the game of softball, while being a beacon for equality for generations of female student-athletes. Melinda will certainly be missed by many in the sport, but her legacy will live on forever here at Illinois State."
 
Fischer's 1,159 career victories, spread out among 39 seasons as a collegiate head coach (at both Eastern Illinois [1979-80] and Illinois State [1986-2022]), rank her as the 18th-winningest coach in NCAA Division I softball history. Her ISU softball head coaching record stands at 1,118-842-4 (.569), giving her the most wins by a female or male head coach in the University's history.
 
"I'm not sure there are enough words or the right words to express the enormous amount of gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, and love I have for being a part of Illinois State University and Redbird Athletics for nearly 47 years," Fischer said. "I am very fortunate to have been surrounded by many great people from Presidents, Athletic Directors, Athletic Administrators, Faculty, all our athletic staff, fans, supporters, alumni and most importantly, our coaches and student-athletes. We all know in this profession that winning is very important and that certainly matters, but what really matters to me is the development of the student-athletes and the total experience they have during their careers. I am so proud to have had the tremendous opportunity to lead this program for 37 years."
 
During her 37 seasons at the helm of the Illinois State softball program, Fischer directed the Redbirds to national prominence, most recently with their ninth NCAA Regional appearance in 2012, and led her teams to 10 regular-season Missouri Valley Conference titles, most recently in 2021. Before that in 2017, the Redbirds made their inaugural NISC (National Invitational Softball Championship) appearance and earned a Regional Title victory over Michigan State. She also has two Gateway Conference regular-season championships to her credit, as well as five MVC Tournament titles.
 
"In addition to her winning record, Coach Fischer has inspired generations of Redbird student-athletes to achieve greatness," Illinois State University President Terri Goss Kinzy said. "I have been impressed and inspired by her stature as a leader, pioneer, and legend not only at Illinois State University, but in the larger realm of college sports."
 
A recipient of six conference coach of the year honors, Fischer led a coaching staff that was honored as both the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year and the Speedline/NFCA Great Lakes Region Coaching Staff of the year in 2006. Two regional coach of the year citations, 28 All-American selections, five College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans and countless other honors highlight Illinois State's success under Fischer's guidance.
 
A two-time inductee into the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame and a 2016 ISU College of Applied Science and Technology (CAST) Hall of Fame member, Fischer's success and devotion to softball extends well beyond Illinois State. In 2010, Fischer was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame and prior to that, she was the first recipient of the NFCA Distinguished Service Award in December 2002. The NFCA's Distinguished Service Award was later renamed the Melinda Fischer Distinguished Service Award on Oct. 8, 2018, to honor the longtime Redbird coach.
 
Fischer's attraction to softball started well before she became head softball coach at Illinois State in the fall of 1985. She began her coaching career in 1974 after a four-year stint as an ISU student-athlete. She became a graduate assistant coach for ISU's softball and basketball teams while completing a master's degree in physical education. As an athlete at Illinois State, Fischer helped lead the Redbirds to the 1969 Women's College World Series, where they finished second.
 
Knowing she would work her way back to NCAA Division I softball, Fischer started a three-year coaching stint at Eastern Illinois in 1976 and was originally hired as the head women's basketball coach, a post she held for three years. She took over the Panther softball program after her first year, and in two years with EIU softball, Fischer led the Panthers to a 41-25 mark, including a 1980 season that saw Eastern Illinois crowned the Illinois Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (IAIAW) State Champion, which secured the Panthers a spot in the regional championship.
 
Fischer returned to her alma mater to become a co-head coach of the women's basketball team in 1980. She joined her former coach and fellow ISU Athletics Hall of Famer Dr. Jill Hutchison for the next five seasons. During her first two seasons, she also served as an assistant coach for the softball team before taking over as head coach prior to the 1986 season. In 1988, her team advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. Then in 1995, her squad compiled 46 wins - the third-highest total by any team in ISU Athletics history - and claimed another conference title with a 19-1 MVC mark.
 
Fischer first became a member of the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) in 1960 and has been appointed as an NCAA Regional representative for numerous regional tournaments, as well as serving on NCAA Regional ranking committees. She has served as chair of the NFCA All-American Committee and from 1993-97, Fischer served as the first-vice president for the NFCA as well as the Convention Director.
 
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