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Feb. 10, 2004
TOLEDO, Ohio – University of Virginia head softball coach Cheryl Sprangel will be inducted into the University of Toledo’s Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame on Friday, February 13. Sprangel is one of nine 2004 inductees and the only former Toledo coach among the newest addition to the Rockets’ Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on Friday, February 13 at The Pinnacle in Maumee, Ohio.
Sprangel, who is in her seventh season as Virginia’s head softball coach, served as the Rockets’ head coach for 14 years from 1984 to 1997 when she left Toledo to become UVa’s head coach. She posted a 460-355-1 (.564 winning percentage) record during her tenure at Toledo and led the Rockets to 12 winning seasons. Her teams won MAC titles in 1985, 1989 and 1992, and placed second six times. She was named MAC Coach of the Year each of the years the Rockets won conference titles. Her teams qualified for the NCAA Tournament in 1989 and 1992. In 1989, the Rockets won the NCAA Mideast Regional Championship and advanced to the College Softball World Series.
At Toledo, Sprangel coached two All-America players who are members of the Varsity ‘T’ Hall of Fame, Tami Johnston-Summers and Leigh Ross. She also coached four Academic All-Americans. The Toledo softball program was in just its fourth year of existence and coming off a 3-24 season when Sprangel immediately transformed the Rockets into a winner, going 27-19-1 in her debut season in 1984.
In six seasons as Virginia’s head coach, Sprangel has posted a 234-157 record for a .598 winning percentage. Sprangel has a career record of 694-512-1 (.575 winning percentage) in 20 seasons. She is 19th among active Division I softball coaches with her 694 career victories.