Head Softball Coach Rhesa Sumrell Announces Retirement

Central Missouri State head softball coach Rhesa Sumrell announced today that this season will be her last. After 20 years at Central Missouri and 31 seasons as a coach, she has decided to retire.

"This is a big step" Sumrell said, "It was a tough decision but I thought it was time for a change in my life. I have had a wonderful 31 years in coaching and have been on the ground floor of women's athletics."

Sumrell, who coaches her final home game tonight, will continue to monitor all summer activities as scheduled for the South Recreation Complex while the search for her replacement begins.

"Coach Sumrell and her teams have always been great representatives of CMSU on the field and in the classroom." Athletic Director Jerry Hughes said, "We appreciate her many years of hard work and dedication to Jennies softball and Central Missouri State. We wish her a very happy retirement."

Sumrell has a list of accomplishments a mile long. She has compiled an all-time record of 821-525 as a softball coach, including a 613-357 mark at Central Missouri. She has won four MIAA titles (1988, 1994, 1995, and 1997) and two regional crowns, taking the Jennies to national fourth place finishes in both 1989 and 1994. The Jennies have made the national tournament seven times during her tenure.

Sumrell also served as an assistant coach for the Jennies volleyball squad from 1987-1998, winning 12 consecutive MIAA titles.

Prior to her time at CMSU, Sumrell was the head volleyball and softball coach for 11 years at Missouri Western as well as the women's basketball coach for three seasons. From 1975-86, she compiled a 194 softball victories, 494 volleyball wins, and 51 basketball triumphs. In 1982, Sumrell led the Griffons to the NAIA national title and was named NAIA National Coach of the Year for her efforts.

As a collegiate head coach during her career, she has compiled 1,366 victories. She was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Missouri Western Hall of Fame in 1990.

One of her proudest accomplishments, though, has been her part in the growth of women's athletics.

"They have gone from almost nothing to fully funded programs." Sumrell said, "Now we have scholarships, facilities, and much bigger budgets. It has really evolved a great deal and I am glad to have been a part of it."

As for her retirement, she has tentative plans after her softball duties expire.

"I am going to play a lot of golf, fish, and relax for a while," Sumrell said, "I will definitely take some vacations."