Title: Head coach, University of Massachussets
Sport: Fastpitch Softball
Career Record: 1,129-470-6

Elaine Sortino has made winning a habit at the University of Massachusetts. In her 32 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 national softball map.

Sortino is one of just five active coaches to have 1,100 wins. She achieved her 1,100th win in dramatic fashion as it came in UMass’ 8-3 victory over Fordham to win the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship on May 15.

Sortino reached a coaching milestone on April 13, 2008 when the Minutewomen swept Temple at home, 9-0 and 10-0, to earn victories 999 and 1,000 of her illustrious career. She became just the eighth coach in Division I softball history to reach the plateau.

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 led UMass to 22 Atlantic 10 Conference titles, 20 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.

A 10-time A-10 Coach of the Year, Sortino was the first Northeast coach to post over 700 career wins. Sortino and her staff have been recognized as the Division I Speedline/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Northeast Coaching Staff of the Year on six different occasions, including 2009.

In 2010, Sortino led UMass to a 42-10-1 record, including a 17-0-1 mark in A-10 play. The Minutewomen claimed their 22nd A-10 Championship and earned their 16th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. That is tied for the seventh-longest streak in the country.

In 2009, UMass finished with a 41-10 record and made its 15th-straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. Sortino was recognized as A-10 Coach of the Year for the third-straight season and 10th overall, while also being named ECAC Coach of the Year. The Minutewomen finished the season ranked No. 14 in both major polls.

The Minutewomen continued to rake in the awards last year. Sara Plourde was named Atlantic 10 Pitcher of the Year, the fifth-straight year a UMass pitcher won the award, and was also named ECAC Pitcher of the Year, NFCA All-Region First Team, and NFCA Third-Team All-American. Katie Bettencourt was named A-10 Co-Player of the Year. Five players were named NFCA All-Region and six took home All-Conference honors.

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 28 All-Americans, 14 A-10 Player of the Year selections, 16 A-10 Pitcher of the Year picks, eight A-10 Rookie of the Year honorees and 121 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 23 30-win seasons, nine 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.