| Loyola Ramblers | |
| University: | Loyola University Chicago |
| Conference: | Atlantic 10 Conference |
| Conference Short: | Atlantic 10 |
| City: | Chicago |
| Stateabb: | IL |
| State: | Illinois |
| Coach: | Alicia Abbott |
| Tenure: | 5th |
| Stadium: | Loyola Softball Park |
| Nickname: | Ramblers |
| Conference Champion: | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013 |
The Loyola Ramblers softball team represents Loyola University Chicago in the NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference (A-10). From 1987 until 2013, the team was a member of the Horizon League (HL).[1] From 2014 until 2021, the team was a member of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC).[2] The Ramblers are currently led by head coach Alicia Abbott. The team plays its home games at Loyola Softball Park located on the university's campus.[3]
The Ramblers, despite winning the Horizon League regular season championship six times, have failed to win a conference tournament championship or qualify for the NCAA Division I softball tournament.[4]
Since forming a team in 1987, Loyola Chicago has won several different awards across conferences. The Ramblers won four Horizon League Coach of the Year awards, winning in 1993 with Terri Laux, 2001 with Stephenie Henderson, 2007 with Yvette Healy, and in 2011 with Missy Beseres-Dow. The team also won four HL Pitcher of the Year awards, winning in 2002 with Sarah Smith, in 2004 with Lindsey LaChiana, in 2007 with Amy Solava, and in 2012 with Brittany Gardner. Smith and LaChiana both shared their awards with UIC's Alison Aguilar in each respective season.[5] [6] In 2014, Gardner was named Missouri Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year, earning the unique achievement of being named Pitcher of the Year in two different conferences across her career.[7] [8]
On April 20, 2013, it was announced that Loyola Chicago would be switching conferences, joining the Missouri Valley Conference after 27 years in the Horizon League.[9] After a period of success in collegiate sports as a whole, it was announced on November 16, 2021, that the Ramblers would switch conferences again, this time joining the Atlantic 10 Conference.[10] [11]
| 1987–1996 | Terri Laux | 159–279 | ||
| 1997–1999 | Jon Cohn | 51–95 | ||
| 2000–2002 | Stephenie Henderson | 69–68 | ||
| 2003–2004 | Jamie Gillies | 64–52 | ||
| 2005–2010 | 131–172–1 | |||
| 2011–2014 | Missy Beseres-Dow | 105–99 | ||
| 2015–2019 | Jeff Tylka | 111–141 | ||
| 2020–present | Alicia Abbott | 69–92 |
| 2024 Loyola Ramblers roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pitchers
| Infielders
Utility
| |||
| Reference:[12] | ||||
Season cut short due to COVID-19 Pandemic [6] [13] [14]