Revelle Inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame

Nebraska Head Softball Coach Rhonda Revelle was formally inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame on Friday, Dec. 10 as part of the 2010 NFCA National Convention in San Diego.

Revelle was joined in the 2010 Hall of Fame class by Florida Southern Head Coach Chris Bellotto and Illinois State Head Coach Melinda Fischer. All three were inducted at a hall of fame banquet, and their selections increase the number of hall of fame coaches to 53 since the organization created its hall of fame in 1991.

"It is extremely humbling to think about going into the NFCA Hall of Fame," Revelle said at the 2009 NFCA National Convention, when it was announced she had been selected for induction. "It is even more of an honor to be inducted as a coach from the University of Nebraska. I am so fortunate to have always been surrounded by such a great team. This award truly belongs to the entire Nebraska softball community."

Revelle is in her 19th season at Nebraska, having led the Huskers to a 680-371 record in her first 18 years. Her 680 wins at Nebraska trail only Husker volleyball coach Terry Pettit (694) and NU baseball coach John Sanders (794) for the most wins ever by a Nebraska head coach. Revelle ranks 18th among active Division I coaches in wins at their current school, while ranking 28th among active Division I coaches in career victories. Before coming to Nebraska, Revelle picked up eight wins in one season as Nebraska Wesleyan’s head coach in 1987, giving her a 19-year career record of 688-387.

Nebraska has won six Big 12 titles and made two trips to the Women’s College World Series during Revelle’s tenure, as she has helped Nebraska qualify for the NCAA Tournament in 15 of the past 16 seasons. Individuals have also seen success under Revelle both on and off the field. In her first 18 seasons, Revelle has coached 14 NFCA All-Americans and 11 ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, the third-highest total of any coach in the country during that span.

Revelle was inducted in front of her peers in the coaching community, including a pair of national championship coaches from her current and future conference.

“Of all the people I know, Rhonda Revelle has always found the button to push that has helped make me a better coach and a better person,” Michigan Head Coach and fellow hall of famer Carol Hutchins said in a video interview that was shown at the induction ceremony and can be viewed online by clicking on the link at the top of this article. “She has this unique ability to get to the core of things and help you bring out things in yourself that you don’t even know about. She’s been one of those special people.”

Oklahoma Head Coach Patty Gasso was also interviewed for the video and congratulated Revelle – the Big 12’s only hall-of-fame coach – on her consistent success.

“It’s hard to stay consistently strong and good year after year after year – it’s hard to do,” Gasso said. “I think Rhonda has done that with her team. Her team always leads the Big 12 in academic All-Americans. It’s just a well-rounded program.”

To be eligible for induction into the NFCA Hall of Fame, the individual must have served as a head coach for a minimum of 15 years, must have been an NFCA member in good standing for a minimum of six years during his or her coaching career and must have made contributions to the NFCA by serving on committees, holding office, or serving in other capacities.

In addition to her coaching career, Revelle has twice served as NFCA President, along with a stint as Second Vice President. She has also been actively involved in NFCA committees, serving as a member of the NFCA All-American Committee for four years before chairing the committee for two more years.

In addition to coaching at Nebraska, Revelle also played for the Huskers from 1981 to 1983. When softball first became an NCAA-sanctioned sport in 1982, Revelle helped lead the Huskers to the inaugural Women’s College World Series by earning All-Big Eight honors as a pitcher and first baseman.