Central Michigan University Athletics
Monica Folske Headed Into Ferris State Hall Of Fame
June 21, 2002
MOUNT PLEASANT - Current Central Michigan University volunteer assistant softball coach Monica Folske will be inducted into the Ferris State University Bulldog Hall of Fame this fall.
Folske was quite involved with FSU athletics from 1974-83, coaching numerous sports including basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball.
"It's just the third class to be inducted so it's quite an honor to be included so early," Folske said.
She started her coaching career in Big Rapids in 1974, just when Title IX was starting to take shape. That year she served as the tennis and softball coach while starting the FSU basketball program. In addition to teaching in the physical education department, she was the volleyball coach for five years and the cheerleading instructor.
"It was a great time to be involved in women's athletics," she said. "The resources were limited before but Title IX gave us better budgets and allowed for better scheduling, and it made high school and college athletics that much better for women."
With her many sports, Folske had to juggle roles quite often.
"We were on the quarter system at Ferris and I coached one sport per quarter," Folske said. "I was able to keep them separate but the more popular women's athletics got the more pressure there was and the athletes wanted to do things like shoot baskets all the time and concentrate more on their sport. That's when I had to choose one sport, and I stuck with softball."
Folske was the softball coach for eight years and led the Bulldogs to two AIAW National Tournament berths and two 20-win seasons. She was 111-87 in her career. FSU was 26-8 and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference runner-up in 1980.
The Indianapolis native graduated from Ball State University where she lettered in basketball, field hockey and softball. Folske then earned a master's degree from Indiana while serving as an assistant basketball coach. She was head softball coach at Western Michigan from 1985-87.
"The accomplishment I am most proud of while at Ferris State was being able to coach while having children and a family," she said. "Any woman who is able to do that is amazing. It was difficult and I eventually had to get out of coaching, but it was fun, challenging and memorable."
Monica's husband, Judd, is the head baseball coach at CMU.