| Margie Wright | |
| Birth Date: | 28 December 1952 |
| Birth Place: | Warrensburg, Illinois |
| Player Years1: | 1971 - 1974 |
| Player Team1: | Illinois State |
| Player Positions: | Pitcher |
| Coach Years1: | 1975–1977 |
| Coach Team1: | Metamora Twp HS |
| Coach Years2: | 1978–1979 |
| Coach Team2: | Eastern Illinois (asst.) |
| Coach Years3: | 1980 - 1985 |
| Coach Team3: | Illinois State |
| Coach Years4: | 1986 - 2012 |
| Coach Team4: | Fresno State |
| Overall Record: | 1,457 - 542 - 3 |
| Tournament Record: | NCAA Division I |
| Championships: |
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Marjorie Ann Wright (born December 28, 1952) is a former college softball coach. She was the head softball coach at California State University, Fresno—more commonly known as Fresno State—from 1986 to 2012. She led the Fresno State Bulldogs to the NCAA national softball championship in 1998 and is the NCAA's second all-time winningest softball coach. She also ranks second all-time in career victories among NCAA Division I coaches in all sports. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000 and the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in 2001. She retired at the end of the 2012 season.
Wright grew up in Warrensburg, Illinois and graduated from Warrensburg-Latham High School.[1] [2] She attended Illinois State University, where she was a pitcher for the 1973 Illinois State softball team that was the national runner-up at the AIAW Women's College World Series. Wright pitched all 16 innings in the title game as the Redbirds narrowly fell to Arizona State, 4-3. On the day of that final, Wright heroically hurled 30 innings in three games. For pitching too many innings in one day, a three-woman Illinois sports commission suspended her from pitching in any game in her upcoming senior season and also banned the softball team from post-season play in 1974.[3] She also pitched a no-hitter in a loss in the semifinals of the 1972 Women's College World Series.[3] Wright went on to pitch for the St. Louis Hummers in the women's professional softball league.
Wright graduated from Illinois State in 1974. She became head softball coach at Metamora Township High School right after graduation. Wright then became an assistant softball coach at Eastern Illinois University in 1978. Returning to Illinois State, Wright began as head softball coach in 1980. In six years at Illinois State, Wright compiled a record of 163 wins, 92 losses, and 2 ties, including a 40-win season in 1981.[4]
In 1985, Wright was hired by California State University, Fresno as its head softball coach, a position she held for 27 years. She led Fresno State to a national championship in 1998, the first national championship won by Fresno State in any team sport. As of 2009, she had coached 53 All-Americans, 16 Academic All-Americans, 11 NCAA team statistical champions, eight professionals, and 15 Olympians.[1]
In 33 years as a head softball coach, Wright compiled a record of 1,457 wins, 542 losses and 3 ties.[3] She is the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach, and also ranks second all-time in career victories among NCAA Division I coaches in all sports, trailing only Texas Longhorns baseball coach (and Fresno State alumnus) Augie Garrido.[5]
Wright's significant career milestones include:
Wright has become a popular figure in the Fresno community and was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008.[9] Interviewed by the USA Today in May 2000, Wright said, "The city is great. I do a lot of speaking engagements out in the community, and I guess the people like what they hear. Certainly, if you're successful, they'll come out and support you."[10]
Bulldog Diamond was renamed Margie Wright Diamond by Fresno State on May 3, 2014 in her honor.
Wright served as an assistant coach on the United States women's softball team that won the gold medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics. She was the head coach of the United States women's national softball team that won a gold medal at the 1998 International Softball Federation Women's World Championship.
After leaving Fresno State, Wright became Director of Player Development for the Wheatland Spikes, a premier youth fastpitch softball program located in Aurora, Illinois.[11]
Wright was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2000.[12] In 2001, she became the third softball individual to be inducted into the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame in New York. The International Women's Sports Hall of Fame was established by Billie Jean King in 1974 and honors individuals who have achieved outstanding success in athletics and had a significant impact on women's sports. On learning of her induction to the international hall, Wright said, "What I think is so special about this honor is it's not so much about the records and championships, but how someone has affected others through sports. It's an extremely prestigious award, and I'm very humble to receive [it]. It goes to all those athletes who've made life worthwhile."[13]
Wright has also been inducted into the Illinois ASA Hall of Fame, the Illinois State University Athletic Hall of Fame, and the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.[1] [14] [9]