Judith F. Groff, Massachusetts – 1999
Judith F. Groff, Assistant Professor in Education at American International College, is assistant athletic director and head coach of women’s softball. She began her career as a coach of field hockey, tennis, lacrosse, and basketball, posting winning records in all sports. From 1969-1980, she was a USFHA official and head coach for women’s basketball at American International College, Springfield, MA, from 1969-1973. In 1974 she started the volleyball program which she coached until 1988. In 1969 she started the women’s softball program which has evolved from a NCAA Division III status into a Division II national power. She has also worked summer camps in the Adirondacks as a swimming instructor and youth counselor.
Judith is affiliated with the AIAW Division III (1980-1982), MAIAW member since 1985, one of the founders of the New England Intercollegiate Softball Coaches Association which she served for five years as treasurer and 10 years as a member of the All-Star Committee. She was also a member of the Polls Committee and chairwoman of the annual All-Star Game for two years. She has been a member of AAHPERD since 1963, a member of the National Softball Coaches Association from 1984 to the present, and is a member of the nominating committee (NCSA) for 1998-2000, and a committee member for the Northeast-10 Softball committee (chairwoman, 1983-1990).
Her team records are outstanding: softball 689-349-3; volleyball: 274-17 (1977-1988). She has posted 25 winning seasons, 15 straight, leading the softball team to the NCAA Regional Tournament in 10 of the last 15 years, including seven straight seasons. She has participated in five ECAC tournaments, winning the tournament in 1986, 1988, and 1991. Her teams have posted 30 or more wins in each of the past 15 seasons, averaging 34 wins per season since 1984. She is ranked fourth among NCAA Division II all-time wins leaders and ranked 18th among all-time leaders regardless of division.
Her teams have participated in many championships and post-season tournaments: Northeast-10: 8 regular season titles (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1997), five tournament titles (1985,1987, 1988, 1989, 1996), ECAC Championships: three in five appearances (1986, 1988, 1991), NCAA National Tournament appearances in 1996 and 1997, AIAW Regional Tournament (Div. III): 1980, 1981; and volleyball, NE tournament appearances in 1985, 1986, and 1987.
Judith was named the high school coach of the year in 1967 (Marple Newtown High School) and recognized by the Easton Victory Club Award for 500 wins and 600 wins. She was a seven-time Northeast-10 Coach of the Year and four-time Northeast Regional Coach of the Year.