ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A name in the softball world that will never be forgotten is Carol Hutchins. After 38 seasons as the head coach at the University of Michigan, she has announced her retirement.

“I want to begin by expressing that today I am filled with pride, love, humility and gratitude. I have served as the head coach of Michigan softball for 38 years, and I am incredibly grateful to the university for this opportunity of a lifetime. I will forever bleed blue,” said Hutchins.

MORE NEWS: A New Day: Michigan House Republicans Select New Leader

She is the winningest coach in NCAA softball history with 1,707 victories and a .755 winning percentage (1,707-555-5). The 2005 season brought Michigan their first NCAA softball national championship as they were the first program east of the Mississippi River to win the title. She won 22 Big Ten Championships, 10 Big Ten Tournament Championships, made 29 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, and went to 12 Women’s College World Series.

Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics Warde Manuel said, “Words cannot adequately describe my appreciation for all that Carol Hutchins has done for the University of Michigan, the sport of softball, nor for the impact she has had on the lives of countless young people. Hutch is a force who elevated not only the sport of softball but generations of female athletes as a staunch advocate of equality. She has been a tireless fundraiser for societal causes, including the American Cancer Society, and I know that she will continue to impact lives beyond the game of softball. Carol Hutchins is a legend.”

She joined the staff at Michigan in 1983 as an assistant coach under Bob DeCarolis after being the head coach at Ferris State University for a year. She then became the head coach at Michigan in 1985. She became the all-time winningest coach on Feb. 22, 2022, in a3-0 victory over Northern Kentucky passing Arizona’s Mike Candrea’s record of 1,674 wins.

Never having a losing season, her best season was the 2005 national championship season going 65-7. They won the national championship in a 10-inning win over UCLA in game three. She then returned back to the WCWS in 2015 and finished with a 60-8 leading the nation in home runs (118) with a program best five NFCA All-Americans. Winning the Big Ten Coach of the Year 18 times with eight NFCA Regional Coach of the Year awards and two National Coach of the Year awards, she produced 69 All-Americans with 23 on the first-team and 14 Academic All-Americans. In her time there were also 20 Big Ten Player of the Year, 14 Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, and 13 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

She finishes with, “For today, goodbye. For tomorrow, good luck. And forever, Go Blue!”