A Winning Culture

Iowa softball is built upon a tradition of winning

4 WCWS appearances • 16 NCAA Tournaments • 4 B1G Regular Season Titles • 2 B1G Tournament Titles • 1 NISC Title

 

For over 20 years, the University of Iowa softball program was among the elite programs in the country, qualifying for 16 NCAA Tournament, making four Women’s College World Series appearances, winning two Big Ten tournament titles, four Big Ten regular season titles and one NISC Championship.

 

All-Americans

17 Hawkeyes have earned 31 All-America honors throughout the program’s history with the most recent being Nia Carter in 2023. Diane Pohl, Debbie Bilbao, and Kristi Hanks have earned first-team All-America honors.

Hall of Famers

The Iowa softball team has three players and one coach inducted into the National Iowa Varsity Club Hall of Fame.

Each of these athletes gave their all and were committed to the University of Iowa and Softball organization. A big congratulations to them for achieving such success and helping the Hawkeyes become such a great University for athletics.

Inducted: 2021

Two-Time All-American (2000, 01); Two-Time All-Region (2000, 02); Three-Time All-Big Ten Conference (2000, 01, 02); Two-Time Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year (2000, 01); All-Tournament Team (2001); Member of College World Series Team (2001); Member of Three NCAA Regional Tournament Teams (2000, 01, 02); Left Program as All-Time Program Leader in Strikeouts; Ranks Top-Ten in All-Time Program Career Pitching Appearances, Innings Pitched, Complete Games, E.R.A., Wins, Shutouts, and Strikeouts; Threw Two No-Hitters (1999, 00); Regionals MVP (2001).

 

Inducted: 2019

Two-time All-American; a three-time all-region; a three-time first-team All-Big Ten selection; Big Ten All-Decade Team member; Iowa athlete of the year (1991); third in career stolen bases, seventh in career batting average; tied for first in games played (season); tied for first in at-bats (season), second in stolen bases (season).

Inducted: 2016

All-time winningest coach in program history; four women’s college world series appearances (1995, 96,97, 01); five regular-season Big Ten Championships (1989, 90, 97, 00, 03); two Big Ten Tournament titles (2001, 03); named Big Ten coach of the year at Iowa (1989, 97, 00); coached 16 different players to 27 All-America honors; coached 109 All-Big Ten conference performers (54 first team); never led the Hawkeyes to a losing record in 22 seasons; never finished Big Ten season ranked lower than fifth; 1997 team posted a 52-9 record, national ranking of fifth and went undefeated (22-0) in Big Ten play; Iowa career record of 945-440-3.

 

Inducted: 2015

Three-time All-American (1991, 93, 94); three-time first team All-Big Ten selection (1991, 93, 94); Big Ten Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, 1991 (only softball player to be named both in the same season); Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, 1994; set and still holds Iowa records for ERA (career and season) and shutouts (season); and set Iowa record for strikeouts (season and career), wins (season and career), completed games (season), and innings pitched (career).

 

Inducted: 2009

Four time All-American – First Team, 1997, Second Team, 1998, and Third Team, 1995, 96; Two time First Team NCAA All-Regional, 1995, 97;  NCAA Regional’s All-Tournament Team & Most Valuable Player, 1997; two time First Team All-Big Ten conference, 1997, 1998 and Conference Player of the Year, 1997; led team to three NCAA World Series and 1997 Big Ten Conference championship; Threw three no-hitters (including two perfect games); and Holds Iowa records in Career Wins (99), Season RBI’s (61), and total Games Pitched in Career (181).

“I am proud that I made the decision to go to Iowa and am proud to be a Hawkeye."

Diane Pohl (2019 Hall of Fame Inductee)

NFCA All-Region

41 Hawkeyes have earned a total of 82 NFCA All-Region honorees, including four-time honorees Kari Knopf and Terri McFarland.

All-Conference Awards

Three Hawkeyes — Terri McFarland (1990), Karen Jackson (1991), and Debbie Bilbao (1997) — have been named Big Ten Players of the Year, while Jackson (1994), Krista Hanks (2000, 2001), and Lisa Birocci (2003) were named Big Ten Pitchers of the Year.