2004 NFCA Hall of Fame Inductee

1,017-432-5 (.701) Overall Record At UMass

Elaine Sortino has made winning a habit at the University of Massachusetts. In her 28 years at the helm of the Minutewoman softball program, Sortino has established herself as one of the nation's most successful collegiate softball coaches and helped to put Massachusetts on the softball map.

On December, 4, 2004, Sortino was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame at its annual convention in Las Vegas, Nev. In 2004, the NFCA also named UMass the 34th-best softball program all-time.

Sortino has posted a career record of 975-419-5 (.699). Her 975 victories are eighth among all active Division I coaches, while her .699 winning percentage stands 14th among all active Division I coaches. With a 6-0 win over Jacksonville on March 11, 2006, Sortino become the 10th all-time coach (ninth active) to eclipse the 900-win plateau.

Sortino has led UMass to 19 Atlantic 10 Conference titles, 17 NCAA regional appearances and three trips to the NCAA College World Series. The Minutewomen also made their first trip to the Super Regionals in 2006.

An eight-time A-10 Coach of the Year, Sortino was the first Northeast coach to post over 700 career wins. The eight A-10 awards is the most of any coach in any sport in the conference. Sortino and her staff have been recognized as the Division I Speedline/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Northeast Coaching Staff of the Year on five different occasions, including 2006.

In 2007, UMass made its 13th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. That is tied for the seventh-longest streak in the country.

The Minutewomen continued to rake in the awards last year. Brandice Balschmiter and Candice Molinari were each named Easton All-Americans. Balschmiter was voted the Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year for the second year in a row, while Stacy Cullington set a new conference record for home runs in a season with 15. UMass had seven All-Conference picks.

In 2002, the Minutewomen won 33 consecutive games from March 23 until May 9, which tied for the eighth-longest streak in NCAA history with the 1992 UCLA Bruins. UMass compiled a 53-13 record, shattering the school record for most victories set by the 1998 team, who had 45.

Sortino has proven her ability of producing exceptional talent, coaching 21 All-Americans, 11 A-10 Player of the Year selections, 13 A-10 Pitcher of the Year picks, seven A-10 Rookie of the Year honorees and 88 all-conference selections. The pinnacle of individual achievement for the UMass softball program occurred in the spring of 1999 as Danielle Henderson received the Honda Award, recognizing the nation's top softball player. Henderson went on to win a gold medal with the United States softball team at the 2000 Olympic Games. Sortino also coached another Olympian in Kaila Holtz. Holtz represented Canada in the 2004 Games.

In Sortino's career, UMass has posted 20 30-win seasons, six 40-win campaign and one 50-win season. Sortino has never had a losing season at the helm of the UMass softball program.

In addition to her duties as the head softball coach at UMass, Sortino is the Associate Athletic Director for Sports Programs and Student Services as well as the Senior Women's Administrator. She has overseen and coordinated numerous national level sporting events, including the 1995 NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships, the 1998 Men's Gymnastics East Regional and the 2003 NCAA Field Hockey National Championship.

A native of Yonkers, N.Y., Sortino came to UMass after two years at Yale University. Prior to assuming her duties as Associate Athletics Director, Sortino served as the head volleyball coach for the Minutewomen, posting a 218-134-1 record from 1979-1986. A graduate of Oneonta (N.Y.) State, she also earned her master's degree from the University of Bridgeport (Conn.). In the fall of 1999, Sortino was inducted into the Oneonta State Athletic Hall of Fame.

Sortino currently resides in Hadley, Mass.