Illinois State Head Coach Melinda Fischer Announces Retirement

Illinois State head coach Melinda Fischer announced her retirement on Sunday afternoon.

Fischer spent 37 years as the Redbirds’ leader, colleting 1,159 victories during her career that also included two years as head coach at Eastern Illinois. She is the 18th-winningest coach in Division 1 history and also the winningest coach of any sport at ISU; 1,118 of her wins came at the helm of the Redbirds.

Athletic director Kyle Brennan, in a school statement, said: “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. 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.”

During Fischer’s tenure, the Redbirds reached the NCAA tournament nine times, most recently in 2012. She led the program to ten regular-season Missouri Valley Conference titles and five conference tournament championships.

Six times the MVC Coach of the Year, Fischer also helmed the regional Coaching Staff of the Year in 2006. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2010 and, an ISU program alumnus, was twice inducted into the Illinois State Hall of Fame.

Assistant coach Tina Kramos has been promoted to serve as the program’s new head coach.