Help Support The Melinda Fischer Field Campaign

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Athletics has announced a campaign to raise funds for the naming of the softball field at Marian Kneer Stadium to Melinda Fisher Field. The "Melinda Fischer Field" fund will be used to support expenses related to the enhancement of the Redbird softball program, which may include field improvements, locker room enhancements, sports specific technology and professional development for student-athletes.

Fischer's contributions to the game are still felt today through her relationships with former players, coaches, staff, and softball supporters alike. Donors to the campaign will honor her legacy by supporting "The Melinda Fischer Field" fund, with an initial department goal of $100,000. Pat Johnson, a loyal supporter of Redbird Softball, has kicked off the campaign with a very generous $10,000 lead gift and Eric and Maria Boerngen have made a $5,000 Redbird Softball Alum matching gift challenge, which will be triggered once 50 gifts of $100 or more are received from softball alums.

Fischer's 1,159 career victories, spread out among 39 seasons as a collegiate head coach at both Eastern Illinois, 1979-1980 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 Illinois State's history. She is also only one of 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.
 
During her 37 seasons at the helm of the Illinois State softball program, Fischer directed the Redbirds to national prominence, leading her teams to 10 regular-season Missouri Valley Conference titles, two Gateway Conference regular-season championships, as well as five MVC Tournament titles.
 
Any donation, regardless of size, will be instrumental in supporting this naming project, and continuing to enhance the experience of Redbird Softball student-athletes. For more information about the project, contact Illinois State Associate Athletics Director for Revenue Generation Nathaniel Smith by email at nwsmit2@ilstu.edu.

To donate to the "Melinda Fischer Field" fund, click HERE

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