Michigan legends Hutchins, Carr, Meyer inducted into Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
Michigan softball coach Carol Hutchins has compiled 1,152 victories since taking over as head coach in 1985.
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NOVI — When Carol Hutchins began her softball coaching career in 1981, she had three goals in mind.
“Early on it was about winning games and getting that first Big Ten championship,” she said. “That, and trying to pay my rent.”
Thirty years later, Hutchins no longer has trouble paying rent. She has even less trouble winning championships.
The longtime Michigan softball coach and all-time winningest male or female coach in school history was part of an eight-member class inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame on Thursday at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Already a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Hutchins became Michigan’s head softball coach in 1985 and now sits as one of the country’s most respected dugout leaders.
Under Hutchins, the Michigan softball program has won 14 of the last 19 Big Ten regular-season titles, earned 19 trips to the NCAA National Championship Tournament, been to nine Women’s College World Series’ and the 2005 NCAA national championship.
She earned her 1,000th career victory in 2007, and stands alone at No. 1 on the school’s all-time coaching wins list for any sport, male or female with 1,205.
“People say it’s been 28 years, but it doesn’t seem like that,” she said. “I run into kids all the time that played for me a long, long time ago — and it never seems that long. But I stay in touch with so many kids, and that’s why this whole thing is like a time warp and time never moves — because the kids are what it’s all about.”
Lloyd Carr led the Michigan football team to its last national championship in 1997.
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“For a kid that grew up in this state, my family moved here in 1955, (this is great),” Carr said. “I was a big baseball fan, I loved the Tigers and Al Kaline in his heyday, Bobby Layne was playing quarterback for the Detroit Lions, and down through the years with the Pistons and all those schools with great athletes.
“I’ve been to a number of these induction ceremonies, and this is a great honor and certainly something I never guessed would happen.”
Carr, who was present at Bo Schembechler’s Michigan Sports Hall of Fame induction in 1989, credits the legendary Wolverine football coach for his success.
And furthermore, says that because of Schembechler’s foundation — passed on by Carr — current Michigan coach Brady Hoke (one of Carr’s former assistants) is ready for the challenge currently sitting in front of him.
“My philosophies were things I believed strongly in because I saw how they were successful for Bo,” he said. “And one of the things Bo stressed and said was ‘this isn’t all about getting a head job, that’s not the issue. The issue is that when you get that head job, you better be prepared.’ … I tried to teach the guys that worked for me the same thing.
“There’s no doubt in my mind (Hoke’s) ready.”
Meyer — a Grand Rapids native and still the last American to win the Boston Marathon in 1983 — set American road racing records in the 8K, the 10K, the 15K, the 25K and the 10-mile runs. He was the first Michigan runner to break the four-minute mile mark and set world records in both the 15K and 10-mile runs in his career.
The former Michigan national champion, who turns 56 on Sunday, became the first runner inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.
"Anybody would being lying if they said this doesn't make you feel very good," Meyer said. "You realize how lucky and fortunate you were to not just be given the talent, but to have everything go right over all those years and to have all those right people your life.
"You sit back and you say, 'It's really cool.' "
Nick Baumgardner covers Michigan basketball for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2514, by email at nickbaumgardner@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
Comments
Terri
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 7:36 p.m.
A well deserved honor for Hutch, the winningnest coach in U-M history!
Hailmary
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 6:55 p.m.
When I see these names it brings an old memory of days gone by and a coach that will never see his name called or mentioned in the same breath. Yes, I'm referring to Gary Moeller. It is my conviction that Gary Moeller set the tone for that 97 national championship team. It is my opinion that Gary would have taken Michigan to even greater heights on a consistant level had he remained the head coach at Mich. and not lost his job due to his own misconduct. Gary Moeller coached and developed tough football players at Mich. and that is the reason that he was Bo's pick to succeed Bo when Bo retired from coaching Mich. I liked Gary's coaching style and what he coached into those young Wolverines and I think Gary Moeller could have played heads up football against Jim Tressel but then again, we'll never know.
Ed daggett
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 3:34 p.m.
Mrunner 73: I have met Carr on several occasions & was a past voter for College football hall of fame. Having witnessed many things that Carr did to hurt M the last three yrs---while drawing $388K annually---is not what a Michigan Man or former coach/employee is all about. Bacon will leave out of the book some of the worst. LC has become a lighting rod for M and they are preparing for him to be exposed. Bo said the following in his last book: "how many former leaders go out of their way to make sure the next guy succeeds? Tha was Bump elliott, a man of great class. Don Canham was simply the best atheltic director in the country. Those two set me up for success!" We all know LC was no Bo----now we know he was not even Bump.
Ed daggett
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
After watching LC actions the last three yrs he is not deserving of this award. Bacon's upcoming book will shed light on the real LC & will leave out some of the worst about him. Congrats to the others from M who were elected.
MRunner73
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 2:08 p.m.
How sad it is for you to make a vague comment about Lloyd Carr, especially if you have never met him. You may be entitled to your opion but I don't see anything of substance in your comment except "watching LC actions the last three yrs". If you are referring to how he handled the Rich Rod era and what he might have told or adivsed some players upon transferring, all of the facts are unknown. John Bacon's book may or may not shed light on how Coach Carr behaved during this time.. Too many people are thinking this will be the bottom line to everything that happended during those three years and we shall ALL find out, soon. I don't see Lloyd Carr gushing over Bardy Hoke, one from his family tree of coaches, in fact, Lloyd has been rather quiet, enjoying his retirement--with dignity all of these months since Brady Hoke has arrived. I am glad you had no vote on enshrining Lloyd Carr into the Mich Sports HOF. He's in, he deserves to be in and I hope he gets more accalades in the future.
MRunner73
Fri, Sep 16, 2011 : 11:32 a.m.
Gotta give a shout out congrats to my former team mate Greg on this honor. He was awesome throughout his collegiate career at Michigan. He was a sub 4 minute miler indoors as well. I hope your college coach will get indicted into the Michigan SHOF as well. Great to see a large number of Michigan people achieving this honor.