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Head Softball Coach Michelle Caddigan
E-mail Coach Caddigan: caddigan@wingate.edu
Call Coach Caddigan: 704-233-8174

Click here to see where Coach Caddigan ranks in the NCAA

NEWS: WINGATE SOFTBALL COACH MICHELLE CADDIGAN INDUCTED INTO
 POTOMAC SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS HALL OF FAME

Michelle Caddigan enters her 12th season at as head softball coach at Wingate University in 2008. Thanks to her relentless work ethic, she has built the Bulldog program into a national contender. Caddigan won her 350th game on Feb. 26, 2007 against Wheeling Jesuit University. In 11 Wingate seasons, Caddigan has compiled a 373-180-2 overall record.

The Bulldogs tied for a second place finish in the SAC in 2007. Wingate had an overall record of 37-20 with a conference ledger of 8-6. The Bulldogs also finished second in the Food Lion SAC Tournament. WU finished the season ranked eighth in the South Atlantic Region.

The 2007 team batted .339 with 85 stolen bases. Outfielder Joy Henry and utility player LaRonda McClain earned All-SAC and All-Region honors. Catcher Mandi Chester won the SAC Scholar Athlete Award for the second consecutive season in 2007.

The 2006 squad will be remembered as one of the most decorated teams in South Atlantic Conference history. The Bulldogs had numerous accomplishments during the 2006 season, on and off the field. Wingate set a new school single-season win record with a 47-11 overall ledger (11-3 SAC). The 47 wins included two victories in the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional tournament.

Wingate was 32-13 overall and 9-5 in the SAC in 2005, finishing the season ranked number seven in the region. In 2004, Wingate was 31-16 overall and 9-5 in the SAC.

Caddigan reached the 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 350-win plateau quicker than any other softball coach in South Atlantic Conference history. Among active NCAA Division II softball coaches, Caddigan is ranked high on the charts in winning percentage and wins (372; the NCAA does not recognize a forfeit by UNC Pembroke in her record).

Caddigan has guided the Wingate program to one SAC regular season championship (1999), seven second-place finishes, three third-place finishes and three conference tournament titles (1999, 2003 and 2006) during her 11-year Wingate coaching career. She has coached 11 NCAA Division II All-South Atlantic Region selections and 51 All-SAC performers.

In 2003, Caddigan was named the South Atlantic Conference Coach of the Year. The Bulldogs compiled a 34-15 overall record in 2003 (11-3 SAC), winning the Food Lion SAC post-season tournament and the school’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II softball play-offs.

In 2002, Wingate was 10-4 in the SAC and 33-17-1 overall. The Bulldogs finished the 2001 regular season in second place behind NCAA play-off participant Carson-Newman. Caddigan was named SAC co-Coach of the Year in 2001.

The 2000 squad finished with a 31-16 overall record, good for third place in the conference. In SAC play, Wingate earned wins over every number one pitcher they faced during the 2000 season. For the first time, the softball program defeated a nationally ranked team, Columbus State University (ranked third).

In the spring of 1999, Caddigan led the Bulldog to both the regular season and conference tournament championships, marking the first time in softball school history for such an accomplishment. The 1999 team led the league in almost every offensive and defensive statistical category. The team placed number 13 nationally in batting average (.339). The 1999 team also set a school record for wins at the time (42) and tied the conference record for wins in a season. Caddigan was also selected as the 1999 SAC Coach of the Year.

Caddigan is quick to mention the academic success of her teams. The Bulldogs were ranked 27th on the 2006-07 NCAA Division II Academic Scholar-Athlete team GPA list, released in December by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) at the organization’s annual convention. Wingate has made the top 10 of the GPA list three times (1999, 2000 and 2001).

Numerous Bulldogs have earned ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District III honors over the years. Most recently, second baseman Megan McPhail and pitcher Ashley Green were listed on the 2007 district teams. Caddigan has coached two ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® honorees: Stephanie Kraemer (1999) and Laura Rudnick (2001).

Caddigan earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a concentration in K-12 health and physical education from James Madison University in 1990. She earned her Masters of Science from James Madison in Kinesiology with a concentration in Athletic Administration.  In addition to duties as head softball coach, Caddigan is Wingate’s Assistant Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator (SWA).

While an undergraduate at James Madison, Caddigan was a player coach and president of the school’s softball club from 1986-89. During this time, she led the team in batting average, doubles, RBI and fielding percentage. She coached the team from 1990-91. After graduating from JMU, she coached softball at C.D. Hylton High School in Woodbridge, Va.

Wingate University Softball

Head Coach Michelle Caddigan through the years