Central Michigan University Athletics
Jonker Named to MAC Hall of Fame
6/1/2020 12:12:00 PM | General, Softball
Becomes the 10th Chippewa to be enshrined in the MAC Hall of Fame.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – A giant in Central Michigan University Athletics will take her rightful place among the legends of the Mid-American Conference.
Margo Jonker, who in 39 years at CMU became one of college softball's most successful coaches and one of its most-respected names, has been elected to the MAC Hall of Fame.
"Being named to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is definitely not something I would have expected," Jonker said. "Actually it is quite a shock. It is a huge honor to be named among the greats in this hall from all sports in our conference, and it is quite humbling."
Jonker compiled a sterling 1,245-780-6 record at CMU, winning 10 MAC Tournament and 10 league regular-season championships. She was named the MAC Coach of the Year 10 times. All three numbers are records. She is the conference's all-time leader in wins and win percentage.
She led CMU to one berth each in the Women's College World Series (1987) and the AIAW National Championship (1982). She earned the NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year Award in 1987 and the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in both 1994 and 2000. Her '87 team and her '82 team have been enshrined in the Central Michigan University Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Margo Jonker is a truly a legend in softball, in the MAC, and at CMU," said Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford. "While her success on the field was impressive, her impact on the sport and on her student-athletes is what really sets her apart. She helped hundreds of young women develop and grow into outstanding people who went on to have successful lives after CMU and impact other young women's lives.
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"We are extremely proud of Margo and are elated that she has received this prestigious honor."
Jonker becomes the 12th Chippewa to be enshrined in the MAC Hall of Fame, joining Casey Cunningham, Marcy Weston, Bruno Pauletto, Dan Majerle, Karen (Karner) Michalak, Dave Keilitz, Ted Kjolhede, Herb Deromedi, Gary Hogeboom, Dan Roundfield and Charlie Coles.
"This is really a tribute to all the young women who have come through Central Michigan's softball program as student-athletes and assistant coaches," said Jonker, who retired after the 2019 season. "They are the ones who put us on the map, in the state of Michigan, in the MAC, and nationally. It is to them that I will forever be indebted.
"I am also grateful to the coaches in the conference for the competition that we faced; It was always a challenge for us to be better. There are way too many to name. Thank you.
"And a huge thank you to the CMU administration for nominating me and to those who made this possible. I have been extremely fortunate in my career for all the support I received from CMU over the years, and from my friends and my family."
Eight times under Jonker did a Chippewa earned All-America honors and three of her players were named Academic All-America. Seven Chippewas who played under Jonker earned MAC Player of the Year Honors, three were named MAC Pitcher of the Year, six garnered the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, and seven times under Jonker was a Chippewa named the Most Valuable Player at the MAC Tournament.
The Chippewas' home field was renamed Margo Jonker Stadium in 2008. She also served as an assistant coach in 2000 for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic softball team and was involved for years with USA Softball's top international travel teams. In 1998, she served as an assistant coach as the U.S. captured the gold medal at the World Championships in Japan.
Jonker is a Holland native who joined CMU Athletics in 1979. She took the reins of the softball program in 1980. She is a member of five other halls of fame: National Fastpitch Coaches Association (inducted in 2003), Grand Valley State University (1990), Michigan Amateur Softball Association (2000), Grand Rapids West Ottawa High School (2001) and Metro Detroit Amateur Softball Association (2014). She is one of just 38 college coaches to be enshrined in the NFCA Hall of Fame.
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Margo Jonker, who in 39 years at CMU became one of college softball's most successful coaches and one of its most-respected names, has been elected to the MAC Hall of Fame.
"Being named to the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame is definitely not something I would have expected," Jonker said. "Actually it is quite a shock. It is a huge honor to be named among the greats in this hall from all sports in our conference, and it is quite humbling."
Jonker compiled a sterling 1,245-780-6 record at CMU, winning 10 MAC Tournament and 10 league regular-season championships. She was named the MAC Coach of the Year 10 times. All three numbers are records. She is the conference's all-time leader in wins and win percentage.
She led CMU to one berth each in the Women's College World Series (1987) and the AIAW National Championship (1982). She earned the NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year Award in 1987 and the Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year in both 1994 and 2000. Her '87 team and her '82 team have been enshrined in the Central Michigan University Marcy Weston Athletics Hall of Fame.
"Margo Jonker is a truly a legend in softball, in the MAC, and at CMU," said Zyzelewski Family Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford. "While her success on the field was impressive, her impact on the sport and on her student-athletes is what really sets her apart. She helped hundreds of young women develop and grow into outstanding people who went on to have successful lives after CMU and impact other young women's lives.
Â
"We are extremely proud of Margo and are elated that she has received this prestigious honor."
Jonker becomes the 12th Chippewa to be enshrined in the MAC Hall of Fame, joining Casey Cunningham, Marcy Weston, Bruno Pauletto, Dan Majerle, Karen (Karner) Michalak, Dave Keilitz, Ted Kjolhede, Herb Deromedi, Gary Hogeboom, Dan Roundfield and Charlie Coles.
"This is really a tribute to all the young women who have come through Central Michigan's softball program as student-athletes and assistant coaches," said Jonker, who retired after the 2019 season. "They are the ones who put us on the map, in the state of Michigan, in the MAC, and nationally. It is to them that I will forever be indebted.
"I am also grateful to the coaches in the conference for the competition that we faced; It was always a challenge for us to be better. There are way too many to name. Thank you.
"And a huge thank you to the CMU administration for nominating me and to those who made this possible. I have been extremely fortunate in my career for all the support I received from CMU over the years, and from my friends and my family."
Eight times under Jonker did a Chippewa earned All-America honors and three of her players were named Academic All-America. Seven Chippewas who played under Jonker earned MAC Player of the Year Honors, three were named MAC Pitcher of the Year, six garnered the MAC Freshman of the Year Award, and seven times under Jonker was a Chippewa named the Most Valuable Player at the MAC Tournament.
The Chippewas' home field was renamed Margo Jonker Stadium in 2008. She also served as an assistant coach in 2000 for the gold medal-winning U.S. Olympic softball team and was involved for years with USA Softball's top international travel teams. In 1998, she served as an assistant coach as the U.S. captured the gold medal at the World Championships in Japan.
Jonker is a Holland native who joined CMU Athletics in 1979. She took the reins of the softball program in 1980. She is a member of five other halls of fame: National Fastpitch Coaches Association (inducted in 2003), Grand Valley State University (1990), Michigan Amateur Softball Association (2000), Grand Rapids West Ottawa High School (2001) and Metro Detroit Amateur Softball Association (2014). She is one of just 38 college coaches to be enshrined in the NFCA Hall of Fame.
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