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Fastpitch Interview
Donna Newberry

For our fastpitch interview that will be featured on the website for the month of April, we had the pleasure of "talking story" with Ms. Donna Newberry. Ms. Newberry is the head coach at Muskingum College in Ohio. She is also the NCAA Division III all-time winningest coach so I feel honored that she took the time to answer a few questions during this busy time of year for college softball coaches. Here is Donna's interview.

How does it feel to be the NCAA Division III all-time winningest coach?
As much as anything, I think it is a tribute to my players. You cannot win without good players. I have been blessed through the years to have an opportunity to coach some outstanding young women. I am also blessed to have been able to coach for a long period of time. In some ways, the number of wins reflects longevity.

What led to you coaching at Muskingum College?
I came here straight from being a graduate assistant at Ohio University. It was simply a job that I applied for, knowing very little about the school at the time. It was one of those fortunate happenings where the first shoe you try on fits perfectly, and you wear it forever.

What do you think is the biggest factor in Muskingum's long standing tradition of softball excellence?
I think continuity in coaches is a big factor. It may not be so much that I have been here 32 years, but the same person has been here 32 years. We have continuity in recruiting, in philosophy, in alumni support, and in expectations. Also, our administration has supported what we are trying to do.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your history with the game or with athletics?
I grew up at a time when women's athletics were just starting to evolve. I was one of those early athletes and coaches who had to fight the Title IX battle to get any kind of opportunity. Most of my softball playing experience came in ASA softball. I played for 19 summer seasons (until the age of 36) as a fast pitch player. I played for many years for Hadley's of Marietta, Ohio, then I played for Wooster, Ohio after coming to Muskingum. Every weekend of every summer was spent traveling somewhere to play ball. When I came to Muskingum, I inherited a slow pitch program. I converted it to fast pitch my first year here. Most of the small colleges at that time played slow pitch, so nearly the first 10 years of my coaching career here was spent playing Division I schools (Ohio State, Ohio U., WVU, etc.) It was tough then, but has paid dividends later.

Can you tell us a bit about Muskingum College (our visitors may not have heard of Muskingum)?
Muskingum is a small (enrollment 1600) liberal arts institution, Presbyterian affiliated, located in the foothills of southeastern Ohio.

Many young players out there don't pay much attention to opportunities available to them at the Div III level - is there anything you'd like them to know about Div III softball?
Division III softball runs the continuum from very good softball, to softball that is not much different than high school. You need to know what you are shopping for - if you want a small college experience but you want to play a very high level of competitive softball, then a school like Muskingum is a great place to look.

What kind of athlete would fit in to your program (academic/athletic requirements etc)?
Academically, you have to be a solid student who is serious about your education. We don't have a minimum ACT or SAT requirement - each applicant is dealt with on a case by case basis. Athletically, you have to be a serious athlete who enjoys competing at a high level and who brings a good work ethic to the table. Personally, you need to be the type of individual who brings the kinds of morals and values that would be a positive reflection of our program.

Do you have players on your team that play other sports for Muskingum?
We have a few. We used to have many, but as non-traditional seasons have become the norm in the NCAA rules, we have less and less. It is easier to combine a fall sport with softball than it is a winter sport, but the main criteria is if you can do both and still maintain your grades.

There may be people out there who disregard Div III schools because they don't offer "athletic scholarships". Are there things Muskingum does to assist with tuition in any way?
All Division III schools have opportunities that should make your education affordable. There are academic scholarships, grants for special circumstances, leadership awards, and the main source of aid is need based aid that comes through filing a FAFSA. In most cases, an education at Division III may cost you little if any more than an education elsewhere.

You've been involved with coaching softball for quite some time, what do you feel has been the biggest change in the game from when you began coaching?
The biggest change is the amount of playing opportunities at a younger age. The amount of summer ball that players experience now (starting with age 10) is unbelievable. I worry about the burnout factor, and have seen it in a number of cases, but you definitely get players with more experience.

hat's one of the best coaching tips you've ever gotten?
"Compromising of standards is the greatest sin of coaching." Sometimes it wears you out to do what you have to do to hold players to a high level of performance expectations, a high level of personal conduct, a high level of academic achievement, a high work ethic, etc. However, to be a good coach that is what you need to do. I sometimes get very tired from doing that, but I never get tired of doing that. If I ever get tired of doing that, it is time to get out of coaching. I hope that day never comes.

Are there any other comments you'd like to add?
It is rare to have the opportunity to do something that you love doing, to get paid for it, and you get to do it every day. I have been extremely fortunate to get to coach softball all of my adult life and to win a few games along the way.