TEMPE – Former Sun Deil softball head coach Linda Wells was recently inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.
Wells was head coach of Sun Devil softball from 1990-2005 and holds the program record with 564 wins. She guided the team to 12 NCAA Regional appearances and made the Women's College World Series in 1999 and 2002.
During her time leading the program, ASU had seven players earn a total of 12 All-American awards. There were also 75 All-Pac 10 recipients, including a program record eight following the 2003 season. ASU also had three Academic All-AMericans during her tenure.
Wells was named Head Coach of the Greek Olympic Team in 2004 and Head Coach of the Netherlands Olympic Team in 2008.
Wells began her coaching career in 1973 at the University of Minnesota, where she served as head women's basketball coach (1973-77), head volleyball coach (1974-81) and head softball coach (1974-88). She finished her tenure with each sport on a winning note, advancing to the national tournament in basketball in 1977, volleyball in 1981 and softball in 1981, 1986 and 1988.
During her 15-year tenure, Wells led the Golden Gophers to three Big Ten softball crowns and compiled a 351-264-1 overall record She earned Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1988 by posting a 31-25 record en route to the Big Ten championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and a No. 11 national ranking.
Wells is also a member of the NSCA Hall of Fame, the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame in volleyball and softball, and the State of Minnesota Hall of Fame.
Originally from Pacific, Mo., Wells was a three-sport athlete in high school. She then played five sports -- softball, volleyball, basketball, tennis and field hockey -- at Southeast Missouri State University, where she graduated in 1972. Wells received the 2002 SE Missouri State Alumni Merit Award, given to past alumni who brought distinction to themselves and the University.
Wells was head coach of Sun Devil softball from 1990-2005 and holds the program record with 564 wins. She guided the team to 12 NCAA Regional appearances and made the Women's College World Series in 1999 and 2002.
During her time leading the program, ASU had seven players earn a total of 12 All-American awards. There were also 75 All-Pac 10 recipients, including a program record eight following the 2003 season. ASU also had three Academic All-AMericans during her tenure.
Wells was named Head Coach of the Greek Olympic Team in 2004 and Head Coach of the Netherlands Olympic Team in 2008.
Wells began her coaching career in 1973 at the University of Minnesota, where she served as head women's basketball coach (1973-77), head volleyball coach (1974-81) and head softball coach (1974-88). She finished her tenure with each sport on a winning note, advancing to the national tournament in basketball in 1977, volleyball in 1981 and softball in 1981, 1986 and 1988.
During her 15-year tenure, Wells led the Golden Gophers to three Big Ten softball crowns and compiled a 351-264-1 overall record She earned Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1988 by posting a 31-25 record en route to the Big Ten championship, a berth in the NCAA Tournament and a No. 11 national ranking.
Wells is also a member of the NSCA Hall of Fame, the University of Minnesota Hall of Fame in volleyball and softball, and the State of Minnesota Hall of Fame.
Originally from Pacific, Mo., Wells was a three-sport athlete in high school. She then played five sports -- softball, volleyball, basketball, tennis and field hockey -- at Southeast Missouri State University, where she graduated in 1972. Wells received the 2002 SE Missouri State Alumni Merit Award, given to past alumni who brought distinction to themselves and the University.