Head softball coach Melinda Fischer ’72, M.S. ’75, has been inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame.

This is the second association award for Fischer, who was the first recipient of the NFCA Distinguished Service Award in 2002.

Fischer is in her 26th season at the helm of the ISU softball program. Prior to the start of the 2011 season, she had amassed 849 career victories, which ranked 40th on the all-time Division I softball coaching wins list.

She has directed Illinois State to seven postseason appearances, including an NCAA Regional berth last season. ISU has won nine regular-season Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), championships, three MVC tournament titles, and two Gateway regular-season championships under her guidance.

Six MVC Coach of the Year awards, two regional coach of the year citations, 17 All-Americans, five College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-Americans, and countless other honors have been captured under Fischer.