Michigan Softball names a head coach as Carol Hutchins retires

Michigan softball is going to have a new head coach going forward and it’s tough to say goodbye to Carol Hutchins. 

As we all look forward to what should be an incredibly exciting Michigan football season, Wolverine athletics got a bit of a shock as legendary head coach Carol Hutchins announced her retirement on Wednesday.

“Hutch” is a true legend in the sport and at the school where she won a national championship and numerous Big Ten titles, after 38 years with the program as head coach. She is the NCAA’s all-time wins leader in softball.

“I want to begin by expressing that today I am filled with pride, love, humility, and gratitude,” said Hutchins. “I have served as the head coach of Michigan softball for 38 years, and I am incredibly grateful to the university for this opportunity of a lifetime. I will forever bleed blue.”

Figures from across the Michigan world took to social media to offer their thoughts including Juwan Howard, who said this about Hutch:

According to Mgoblue.com, “Hutchins guided Michigan to the 2005 NCAA championship, becoming the first program east of the Mississippi River to capture the national title, to highlight a career that included 22 Big Ten Conference championships, 10 Big Ten Tournament crowns, 29 NCAA Tournament appearances, and 12 Women’s College World Series appearances.”

One of the most impressive parts of her record is that she never suffered a losing season. She’s also the all-time winningest coach at the University of Michigan in any sport, male or female.

That’s impressive. It’s also fitting.

You know you’re famous when people simply know you by one name and while Michigan football fans love Aidan Hutchinson and will call him Hutch (or at least I do sometimes) — the original “Hutch” is Carol Hutchins and she will always be a G.O.A.T of Michigan coaching.

Her replacement has already been named and it’s Bonnie Tholl, who was a former Wolverine and has been the associate head coach for 20 years.

It’s what everyone expected and it makes a lot of sense. It was good for Warde Manuel to act quickly and I’m sure Hutch was part of that transition process or at least thinking about it.

Hutchins built something incredible at the University of Michigan and she made a bunch of people care about softball that probably wouldn’t have otherwise.

So goodbye Hutch, and thanks for all the memories. Forever Go Blue!