Softball | December 21
DEKALB, Ill. – Former Northern Illinois University head softball coach and Athletics administrator Dee Abrahamson has been named to the 2019 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame class the NFCA announced Thursday.
"Nobody walks across that stage by themselves," Abrahamson said. "There's an awful lot of people that have carried me over time and I've carried them over time and together we've made it. Certainly, I've had a lot of great student-athletes, staff, assistant coaches, athletic trainers, strength coaches and media relations people helping me along the way.
"When I moved into administration, I had a lot of really great coaches and administrators to work with. Cary [Groth] gave me a lot of opportunity, challenged me and helped me grow and I learned a lot."
A 2002 and 2017 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, Abrahamson spent 32 years at NIU as a coach and administrator. She began her career at NIU in August of 1979 when she was named head coach of the Huskie softball program. In 15 seasons at the helm, Abrahamson amassed an overall record of 416-285-5, led NIU to a berth in the 1988 College World and tallied five 30-win seasons. Her 1993 squad posted a school-best 40-18 record.
Following her success on the diamond, Abrahamson left coaching and embarked on a 17-year career in Athletics administration at NIU. From 1994-2011, Abrahamson oversaw several different units within the athletics department and rose from assistant athletic director to Senior Associate Athletic Director and Senior Woman Administrator for NIU. She had oversight responsibilities for 12 sports during her tenure.
In addition to her stellar career at NIU, Abrahamson, who is being inducted in the Pioneer category, currently serves as an equipment consultant for the NCAA. A native of Wilmette, Ill., she served as the NCAA Softball Secretary from 1996-2016. A nationally recognized expert in softball and bat technology, Abrahamson is also a liaison to the National Federation of High Schools and Amateur Softball Association, which is the National Governing Board for the sport.
"A lot of times we're blessed with opportunities that just come along once," she said. "I don't know at the time I was ready to leave coaching softball. I left softball, not looking to leave. It was at that time the NCAA was looking to have college softball rules of its own. The timing couldn't have been better for me. I briefly left softball, then jumped right back in."
The induction ceremony of the NFCA's 29th Hall of Fame class, which also includes late Heart Academy head coach Anthony LaRezza and Cypress head coach Brad Pickler, will be held Friday, Dec. 6, 2019 in Atlantic City, N.J.
-NIU-
