The Judi Garman Classic has built itself up to the point of being known as one of the premier early-season tournaments during softball season. An annual tournament hosted by Cal State Fullerton, the event provides another west-coast venue for top-level matchups before conference play begins.
But who is the woman after whom this popular event is named?
Judi Garman coached the Fullerton Titans from 1980-1999, compiling 913 wins and leading her squad to the National Championship title in 1986. That title, which included a 3-0 win over Texas A&M in the championship game, was earned during a time that the Women’s College World Series was hosted in Omaha, Nebraska.
Upon her retirement in 1999, Garman held the record for the highest win total in the sport’s history; the mark of 1,124 career wins included 211 victories at Golden West College. Garman’s tenure at Golden West brought four National Junior College Softball Championships to Huntington Beach, as her squad brought home the title every season from 1976-1979.
A former member of the Canadian women’s national team, Garman served as head coach of the Italian women’s national softball team following her retirement as coach at CSF. Her tenure with the Italian squad included a fifth-place finish at the 2002 ISF Women’s World Championship.
Garman was inducted into the NFCA Hall of Fame in 1993. The Classic officially adopted Garman’s name in 2006.
