The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) announced Monday it will Illinois State softball coach Melinda Fischer by renaming its Distinguished Service Award after the longtime Redbird coach. Fischer was the first recipient of the award in 2002.
An NFCA Hall of Famer, Fischer has served as the NFCA First Vice President (1993-97), chair of the Division I All-America Committee and director of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic.
“This honor was completely unexpected,” she said. “Volunteering with an organization for a sport that you love seems pretty natural. Each and every year, I have been able to witness first-hand how things within the NFCA have evolved, and how things have continued to get bigger and better as we move into the future.