NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State Athletics has announced that the softball field inside Marian Kneer Stadium will be named Melinda Fischer Field in recognition of the Hall of Fame career of the former ISU head coach. The naming was approved on Friday, October 17, at the Illinois State Board of Trustees meeting.
The announcement comes after a campaign to raise funds for the naming of the softball field at Marian Kneer Stadium to Melinda Fisher Field was successful, thanks to softball alumni, fans and donors. 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, who has more wins than any coach in ISU history, retired in 2022 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.
"I'm deeply honored and filled with tremendous gratitude and excitement, as this field naming represents everyone who has been a part of Redbird softball," Fischer said. "A heartfelt thank you to President Tarhule, the Board of Trustees, Director of Athletics Jeri Beggs, Chief Operating Officer Leanna Bordner, and softball head coach Tina Kramos for their efforts and to all who contributed financially to make this become a reality. Illinois State University and Illinois State Athletics have been my home and my family for 47 years, and this absolutely means the world to me."
Fischer's 1,159 career victories, spread out among 39 seasons as a collegiate head coach (at both Eastern Illinois and Illinois State), 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 could not think of a more deserving person to have their name on our softball field than Melinda Fischer," ISU Director of Athletics Dr. Jeri Beggs stated. "Melinda's impact on Illinois State University and women's softball is unparalleled. She guided our program as head coach for 37 seasons and amassed a record 1,159 wins, becoming the winningest coach in Illinois State and Missouri Valley Conference history. Her legacy here at Illinois State and nationally as part of the NFCA Hall of Fame has a lasting impact on the sport of softball. Even in retirement, Melinda remains a dedicated Redbird, advocating for advancements for the softball program and to Marian Kneer Softball Stadium. We are lucky to have her as part of our Redbird Family and excited to honor her with the naming of Melinda Fischer Field."
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.
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. 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 was also selected as a Homecoming Marshall in 2023 and was honored as a Distinguished Alumni by the University in 2025.
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.
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