| Northern Illinois Huskies softball | |
| Founded: | 1959 |
| University: | Northern Illinois University |
| Conference: | Mid-American Conference |
| Conference Short: | MAC |
| City: | DeKalb |
| Stateabb: | IL |
| State: | Illinois |
| Coach: | Christina Sutcliffe |
| Tenure: | 7th |
| Stadium: | Mary M. Bell Field |
| Capacity: | 600 |
| Wcws: | 1988 |
| Ncaa Tourneys: | 1988, 1996 |
| Conference Tournament: | 1996 (MCC) |
| Conference Champion: | 1988, 1989, 1990 (NSC) 1996 (MCC) 1999, 2000 (MAC) |
The Northern Illinois Huskies softball (officially NIU Huskies softball[1]) team is the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I college softball team that represents Northern Illinois University (NIU) in DeKalb, Illinois, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). NIU softball started playing in 1959 and has two NCAA Tournament appearances (1988, 1996) and one appearance in the Women's College World Series (1988). The Huskies are coached by Christina Sutcliffe.
NIU softball head coach Christina Sutcliffe is the seventh head coach in NIU softball program history and took over the program starting with the 2013 season.[3] [4]
NIU softball has had seven players named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-America teams, including three First-Team All-American selections.[2] [5]
| 1987 | Jill Justin | First-Team |
| 1988 | Jill Justin | First-Team |
| 1989 | Jill Justin | First-Team |
| 1991 | Julie Sexton | Third-Team |
| 1993 | Niki VanHooreweghe | Third-Team |
| 1997 | Tammy Pytel | Third-Team |
| 2016 | Emily Naegele | Third-Team |
NIU women's SOFTBALL has had 18 players named to CoSIDA Academic All-America teams, including eight First-Team Academic All-American selections.[2] [6]
| 1986 | Sue Kause | First-Team |
| 1986 | Amy Veld | Third-Team |
| 1987 | Sue Kause | First-Team |
| 1987 | Amy Veld | First-Team |
| 1987 | Beth Schrader | Third-Team |
| 1988 | Sue Kause | First-Team |
| 1988 | Beth Schrader | First-Team |
| 1988 | Laura Peterson | Second-Team |
| 1988 | Amy Veld | Second-Team |
| 1989 | Beth Schrader | Third-Team |
| 1990 | Julie Sexton | First-Team |
| 1993 | Niki VanHooreweghe | Second-Team |
| 1994 | Niki VanHooreweghe | Second-Team |
| 1995 | Amy Scharlau | First-Team |
| 1995 | Niki VanHooreweghe | Third-Team |
| 1998 | Tammy Pytel | Third-Team |
| 2006 | Lindsey LaChiana | Second-Team |
| 2016 | Emily Naegele | First-Team |
| 2021 | Katie the god Keller | First-Team |
NIU softball has had two players named Player of the Year by the conference.[2]
| 1996 | Kerri Kerber | MCC |
| 1999 | Christy Dalton | MAC |
NIU softball has had two players named Pitcher of the Year by the conference.[2]
| 1996 | Angie Zuspann | MCC |
| 2000 | Courtney Witvliet | MAC |
NIU softball has had five head coaches named Coach of the Year by the conference.[2]
| 1989 | Dee Abrahamson | NSC |
| 1993 | Dee Abrahamson | Mid-Con |
| 1996 | Donna Martin | MCC |
| 1999 | Donna Martin | MAC |
| 2000 | Donna Martin | MAC |