Diane Stephenson (2016) - Indiana University Athletics Hall of Fame

Diane Stephenson

Induction:
2016

Diane Stephenson's contributions to the Indiana softball program span from her playing career to her time as head coach. In 1977, Stephenson became the first female to receive an athletic scholarship from Indiana University. She made an immediate impact, leading the team in batting average in both 1978 and 1981. In 1981, she became the first Indiana softball All-American, receiving first team honors after batting .359 and posting a 10-2 record in the circle. Stephenson led her team to back-to-back AIAW College World Series appearances in 1979 and 1980, including a fifth place finish in 1979 and a runner-up finish in 1980. Stephenson took over as head coach in 1988 and posted three consecutive winning seasons, including a 45-18 record with a 16-8 Big Ten mark in 1990. In 1994, Stephenson led the team to a Big Ten championship, a NCAA Regional appearance and a 49-16 record, the highest single-season win total in program history. For her efforts, Stephenson was named the Regional Coach of the Year and the program's first Big Ten Coach of the Year. Two years later, she guided the team to an additional NCAA Tournament appearance.