Wheaton College (MA)

Photo Gallery / Induction Speech

In the spring of 2007, Gina Loudenburg became the 15th softball coach in Division III history to earn 500 career wins. In her first 18 years on the softball diamond, Loudenburg had 504 wins and led Wheaton to 10 conference tournament titles and seven NCAA Tournament appearances, advancing three times to the College World Series, where the Lyons finished third in 1997 and 2001. Between softball and volleyball, Loudenburg racked up 783 wins and 13 league titles, and she also led the 1997 volleyball team to an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance. Loudenburg earned numerous softball accolades, being named National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) regional coach of the year four times, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Coach of the Year twice, and New England Women's 8 Conference (NEW 8) Coach of the Year on four occasions. During Loudenburg's softball tenure, Lyons earned 15 All-America honors, nearly 150 regional accolades, and 50 all-league laurels. On 10 occasions in her 18 years, Wheaton players were named regional or conference player of the year and five earned rookie-of-the-year honors. Lyons qualified four times for academic all-district, with one drawing an academic all-America certification.