by Julia Cuttone
Q. How old were you when you started playing softball? What got you into the sport?
I was about eight when I started to play softball, but prior to that I had played baseball on the Navy base.
Q. Where did you play collegiate softball and how did you get to the level that you were at?
Mesabi Community College and Bemidji State University. I loved the sport of softball so much. It’s all I wanted to do every single day. I was always practicing by throwing a ball against the wall and fielding grounders or playing ‘Hit the Bat’ with my brother.
Q. What is your best memory as a softball player?
Definitely making it to the Minnesota State High School Tournament in 1988…only after having our high school softball program for two years. Prior to that a handful of us had tried out and/or made the cut for the high school baseball team.
Q. Throughout your softball journey, I know you had injuries, what advice do you give to any athlete going through an injury?
Keep working while healing on body parts that you can improve. Listen to your doctors. Rest! Keep your mind sharp. Keep learning the game. Learn new positions. Be a team leader from the sidelines in and out of season.
Q. What was your biggest obstacle as a softball player and how did you overcome it?
My weight. I was a very in shape, fat person. I wasn’t fast but I made up for it in other ways. I learned how to become a power hitter so that I could hit the ball long and just trot it out while scoring all the other ducks. I learned how to position myself at the hot corner so I wouldn’t miss a bunt. But I had to really work on my reflexes for the power hitter coming down the line as well. I learned to be versatile.
Q. What is your biggest accomplishment as a softball player?
I would say my biggest accomplishment came AFTER I finished playing. Coaching is my biggest accomplishment from the game of softball. I made myself learn to play every single position so that I was NEEDED on every team I played on. It then taught me how to coach a team by myself if ever I had to…and there were times due to budget constraints, lack of enthusiasm or volunteers, etc.
Q. What made you become an assistant athletic director? What drives you to always do your best?
I knew from a super young age that I wanted to be involved in Athletics. It all started so basic and innocent—I wanted to be the San Diego Chicken or the Philly Phanatic. That’s where my hopes and dreams started at a very young age regarding athletics. Then I slowly transitioned into wanting to be a professional women’s baseball player, but the Rockford Peaches and Silver Bullets no longer existed or weren’t into their brief existence yet. Then I started coaching in about 8th grade and I loved it. I couldn’t get enough of teaching the kids what I already knew. It was so easy for me and the kids loved the game. I coached for the next 30 years. When I was done coaching, I knew that I would miss the game, but I had a passion for not just my two main sports of volleyball and softball but ALL sports. I loved everything about an athlete…commitment, time management, competitive spirit, flexibility, sportsmanship, pure passion. I started my higher education coaching at the JUCO level and thought I was happy there and I was, but I wanted to step it up a notch. I had won championships in both sports at that level and felt I wanted to achieve at another level. One year while at the DIII level I had to make the difficult decision to coach or take on compliance—tough choice because I knew that I would miss coaching so much—30 years is a long time! But in the grand scheme of things the choice was easy. I wasn’t just dedicating my time to a team of 12 now, I would be dedicating myself to 250 student athletes. That is when I know I had made the right decision.
Q. What do you believe that it takes to be a leader on a team?
I believe a leader should lead by example, show respect for everyone, support, commit, adapt, and work hard! There are leaders at all levels and all levels will vary at some point, but these traits are ones that they should always carry.
Q. How do you connect a team and bring them together as one?
Kumbya moments are always fun! I like to gather my student-athletes early in the season and have a BBQ before the first practice. Throughout the season I would do team meals. When I coached at a small high school, we had a team meal (Varsity to 7th grade) before every home game and everyone had to attend. It was a potluck that parents signed up for. It was amazing and it truly brought our whole program together. I also always made sure to schedule 2-3 overnight tournaments. We tried to do something different each time we went away at the hotel. The biggest hit was hair dying! I tried to make everything as fun as I possible could and engage everyone! This way they knew that when it was game time there was no time for the craziness—it was time to turn it on and have fun getting to business!
Q. What advice do you give to student-athletes who have plans of playing collegiate softball?
Work hard. Get yourself out there. Communicate and don’t stop communicating. If a coach is communicating back, they want you. Don’t ever think you are annoying anyone because you never want to miss an opportunity. Get to the college games when you can. Start supporting early! Always be yourself because it’s hard to prove someone you aren’t once; they see the real you! Have fun and just enjoy the game!
