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Spotlights » Margo F. Jonker, '76
Margo F. Jonker, '76, former Laker softball standout, was recently recognized for her impressive career as head softball coach for Central Michigan University. On April 19, the CMU softball complex was formally renamed in her honor. The Margo Jonker Stadium is the first structure on Central Michigan's campus to be named solely after a female.
"It was a tremendous honor to have our softball facility named after me. It was a dream come true that I never even dreamed of," said Jonker. "It is truly a testament to all of the outstanding people I have had the opportunity to surround myself with, especially to our student-athletes throughout the years. I feel fortunate to have been the gatekeeper of this outstanding program for the past 29 years."
Jonker was a pitcher and catcher for Grand Valley, and after graduating in 1976 spent three years as the Laker's pitching coach before starting her career at CMU.
Now in her 29th season as head coach for the Chippewa's, Jonker has amassed an impressive list of accomplishments during her tenure. She is the all-time winningest Mid-American Conference softball coach, having lead her teams to 966 total victories, and ranks ninth on the Division I all-time wins list.
The nine-time MAC Coach of the Year has won a conference-record eleven MAC titles, nine MAC Tournament Championships, and has led her Chippewas to the NCAA Tournament thirteen times, as well as the NCAA Women's College World Series in 1982.
In 1998, she served as assistant coach for the gold-medal winning USA World Championship team, and in 2000, earned another gold medal as assistant coach for the USA Olympic Team.
The Holland, Michigan native is a member of several Halls of Fame, including the Michigan Amateur Softball Hall of Fame, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, and was inducted into GVSU's athletic Hall of Fame in 1989.
Added May 2008
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