Softball coach Margo Jonker retires after 40 seasons
Head Coach of the Central Michigan Women's Softball Team Margo Jonker speaks with senior catcher Kayla Noch during a Western Michigan mound visit April 2 at Margo Jonker Stadium.
Central Michigan softball coach Margo Jonker has retired after 40 seasons at the helm of the Chippewas, CMU Athletics announced in a press release.
Jonker's retirement becomes effective June 30. She will provide leadership for the team until a new coach is named by CMU Athletic Director Michael Alford, who has already started conducting a national search.
A source close to the athletic department told Central Michigan Life that Jonker's retirement was a "complete surprise" and "totally her decision."
Jonker finishes her career with a 1,268-808-7 overall record. She helped CMU make the NCAA Tournament 13 times, secured 10 Mid-American Conference Tournament championships and 10 MAC regular season titles.
She made it to the NCAA Women's College World Series once. Jonker has the ninth-most wins in NCAA Division I softball history.
"It has been an amazing 40 seasons and I will really miss working with these fantastic student-athletes, but it is time for me to step aside and let someone else be the gatekeeper for this program," Jonker said in a press release. "It is never easy to leave something you love but I am so thankful to have so many amazing memories.
"Everything accomplished during my time here is because of the young women who have come through this program and one of the things I still enjoy most is when they come back, and I can see what outstanding people they have become. While I will miss the day-to-day coaching, I will always love this sport and the great people who are in it."
Along with team accomplishments, Jonker racked up her fair share of personal accolades. The Holland native was named as the MAC Coach of the Year 10 times and was the NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year in 1987. She was the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in 1994 and 2000.
Displaying the development of her softball players, Jonker coached eight All-Americans and 53 all-region selections. During her tenure, the Chippewas had 87 members of the All-MAC First Team and 39 student-athletes selected to the All-MAC Second Team.
Alford called Jonker a "legend" in the softball community.
"She has had an amazing impact on hundreds of student-athletes, making sure that their success was always the top priority," Alford said in the press release. "Her success on the field is unmatched but even greater is the fact that nearly every young woman that went through her program graduated and went on to success in their adult lives. Our entire department will miss her immensely and I hope she stays connected to our program because she will always be a tremendous resource."
Jonker was an assistant coach when the 2000 U.S. Olympic softball team won a gold medial in Sydney, Australia. She played softball at Grand Valley State and is in the school's Hall of Fame.
During the 2008 season, CMU's softball facility was renamed – Margo Jonker Stadium. She joined the athletic department in 1979 and took over as the head coach of the softball program in 1980.
