 2004 NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee
1,017-432-5 (.701) Overall Record At UMass
Elaine Sortino has made winning a habit at the
University of Massachusetts. In her 31 years at the helm of the Minutewoman softball program, Sortino has established herself as
one of the nation's most successful collegiate softball coaches
and helped to put Massachusetts on the softball map.
Sortino reached a coaching milestone on April 13,
2008 when the Minutewomen swept Temple at home, 9-0 and 10-0, to
earn victories 999 and 1,000 of her illustrious career. She
became just the eighth coach in Division I softball history to
reach the plateau.
On December, 4, 2004, Sortino was inducted into
the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame at its
annual convention in Las Vegas, Nev. In 2004, the NFCA also
named UMass the 34th-best softball program all-time.
Sortino has led UMass to 20 Atlantic 10
Conference titles, 18 NCAA regional appearances and three trips
to the NCAA College World Series. The Minutewomen also made
their first trip to the Super Regionals in 2006.
A nine-time A-10 Coach of the Year, Sortino was
the first Northeast coach to post over 700 career wins. The nine
A-10 awards are the most of any coach in any sport in the
conference. Sortino and her staff have been recognized as the
Division I Speedline/National Fastpitch Coaches Association
Northeast Coaching Staff of the Year on five different
occasions, including 2006.
In 2008, UMass made its 14th-straight trip to the
NCAA Tournament. That is tied for the seventh-longest streak in
the country. Sortino was recognized as A-10 Coach of the Year
for the second-straight season and ninth overall.
The Minutewomen continued to rake in the awards
last year. Brandice Balschmiter was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of
the Year for the third-straight season and was also named an
Easton All-American for the second-straight season. Four players
were named NFCA All-Region and eight took home All-Conference
honors.
In 2002, the Minutewomen won 33 consecutive games
from March 23 until May 9, which tied for the eighth-longest
streak in NCAA history with the 1992 UCLA Bruins. UMass compiled
a 53-13 record, shattering the school record for most victories
set by the 1998 team, who had 45.
Sortino has proven her ability of producing
exceptional talent, coaching 24 All-Americans, 11 A-10 Player of
the Year selections, 14 A-10 Pitcher of the Year picks, eight
A-10 Rookie of the Year honorees and 103 all-conference
selections. The pinnacle of individual achievement for the UMass
softball program occurred in the spring of 1999 as Danielle
Henderson received the Honda Award, recognizing the nation's top
softball player. Henderson went on to win a gold medal with the
United States softball team at the 2000 Olympic Games. Sortino
also coached another Olympian in Kaila Holtz. Holtz represented
Canada in the 2004 Games.
In Sortino's career, UMass has posted 21 30-win
seasons, seven 40-win campaign and one 50-win season. Sortino
has never had a losing season at the helm of the UMass softball
program.
In addition to her duties as the head softball
coach at UMass, Sortino is the Associate Athletic Director for
Sports Programs and Student Services as well as the Senior
Women's Administrator. She has overseen and coordinated numerous
national level sporting events, including the 1995 NCAA Women's
Volleyball Championships, the 1998 Men's Gymnastics East
Regional and the 2003 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship.
A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Sortino came to UMass
after two years at Yale University. Prior to assuming her duties
as Associate Athletics Director, Sortino served as the head
volleyball coach for the Minutewomen, posting a 218-134-1 record
from 1979-1986. A graduate of Oneonta (N.Y.) State, she also
earned her master's degree from the University of Bridgeport
(Conn.). In the fall of 1999, Sortino was inducted into the
Oneonta State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Sortino currently resides in Hadley, Mass.
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