Carol Hutchins, Michigan’s Winningest Coach, Named CSCAA Keynote Speaker
Carol “Hutch” Hutchins, Winningest Coach in Michigan History will keynote the CSCAA Annual Meetings in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sunday, May 4th.
April 17, 2025 — The College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) is excited to announce that legendary University of Michigan softball coach Carol “Hutch” Hutchins will deliver the keynote address at the 2025 CSCAA Annual Meetings.
In recent years, college softball has undergone a major evolution—strategically reinventing itself to ensure a sustainable and successful future within the collegiate sports landscape. From 2015 to 2023, the Women’s College World Series (WCWS) saw its viewership grow by more than 300%, with the 2023 tournament alone averaging over 1.2 million viewers per game and setting new attendance records. Regular-season games on ESPN networks also experienced record-high viewership, while the sport has enjoyed expanded media rights coverage and growing fan engagement at both the grassroots and collegiate levels. Coach Hutchins was at the table for much of this transformation, helping guide softball through its reinvention for the purpose of growth—and she will share key aspects of that journey with CSCAA members during her keynote address.
Carol Hutchins retired in 2022 as the winningest coach in NCAA softball history, with 1,707 career victories. In her 38 years leading the Wolverines, Hutch built Michigan into a national powerhouse, capturing 22 Big Ten titles and the 2005 NCAA National Championship—the first ever won by a team east of the Mississippi River. She is a 12-time Big Ten Coach of the Year, an inductee into multiple halls of fame, and a tireless advocate for gender equity and student-athlete development.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Hutchins to the CSCAA Annual Meetings,” said Samantha Barany, CSCAA Executive Director. “She’s not only a coaching icon but also a proven leader in shaping the trajectory of an entire sport. It’s always valuable to look beyond our own space for inspiration and solutions—and we should do it as often as possible. Hutch’s insight into long-term program and sport sustainability will be incredibly impactful for our coaches and for the continued evolution of collegiate swimming and diving.”
The 2025 CSCAA Annual Meetings will take place May 4–6 in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hutch’s keynote is scheduled to kick off the event on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. local time, at the Crabtree Marriott in Raleigh.
For more information about the CSCAA Annual Meetings, including registration, visit https://www.cscaa.org/annual-meetings.
About CSCAA:
Founded in 1922, the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) – the first organization of college coaches in America -is a professional organization of college swimming and diving coaches dedicated to serving and providing leadership for the advancement of the sport of swimming & diving at the collegiate level. With a mission to protect, preserve and expand college swimming and diving opportunities, the CSCAA provides valuable resources, educational opportunities, and leadership development to its members, fostering a thriving and competitive collegiate swimming and diving community.