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Illinois State softball coach Melinda Fischer announces retirement; Tina Kramos named new coach

NORMAL — Illinois State's all-time winningest coach is calling it a career.

Redbird head softball coach Melinda Fischer announced her retirement Sunday after 37 seasons of leading the Redbirds' program. ISU athletic director Kyle Brennan named longtime Redbirds assistant coach Tina Kramos as ISU's new head coach.

Fischer is among only 28 head coaches in NCAA Division I softball that have won 1,000 games in their coaching career with at least 10 years of Division I head coaching experience.

MELINDA FISCHER 2022 MUGSHOT
Fischer

“I’m not sure there are enough words or the right words to express the enormous amount of gratitude, thankfulness, appreciation, and love I have for being a part of Illinois State University and Redbird Athletics for nearly 47 years,” said Fischer.