LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Former University of Texas head coach Connie Clark, Augustana University head coach Gretta Melsted and University of Florida head coach Tim Walton were announced as the 2024 NFCA Hall of Fame class at the conclusion of the NFCA Convention’s Hall of Fame banquet on Dec. 8 at the The Galt House Hotel.
The trio will bring the Hall’s total to 99 members and will be inducted on Friday, Dec. 6, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.
Over the course of her legendary career at the helm of the Texas softball program, Clark posted an 873-401-3 (.685) overall record and led the Longhorns to five Women’s College World Series appearances, including the 1998 squad that became youngest program to ever reach the WCWS after earning the opportunity in just the program's second-ever season. In 22 seasons under Clark, the Longhorns appeared in 19 NCAA Regionals, while earning four Big 12 regular season and tournament championships.
The three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year mentored 105 All-Big 12 Conference selections, 74 NFCA All-Region selections, 29 NFCA All-Americans, seven Big 12 Freshmen of the Year, five Big 12 Pitchers of the Year, two Big 12 Players of the Year, three USA Softball Collegiate Players of the Year and two Honda Awards for Softball. Additionally, Clark coached nine national and junior national team members, including Cat Osterman (2004, 2008, 2020) and Christa Williams (1996, 2000) who won Olympic Gold Medals.
With next year's induction, it will mark the fifth different Hall of Fame that Clark will be a member of: Arizona Softball Foundation (2005), NJCAA (2006), Cal State Fullerton Athletics (2009), Central Arizona Junior College (2010) and NFCA (2024).
Melsted enters her 18th season as Augustana’s head coach in 2024 and 21st overall as at the helm of a collegiate softball program. She guided the Vikings to a 2019 NCAA Division II national title and 11 NCAA tournament appearances since 2010. Since stepping into the Augustana dugout in 2007, Melsted has steered the Vikings to 15 consecutive winning seasons, reaching at least 40 wins on 10 occasions with four 50-win seasons and a program-record 61 wins during the national championship run. With a 763-348 overall career record, which included three seasons as Culver-Stockton’s skipper, Melted has guided Augustana to 682 victories and a 331-78 mark in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.
During her time, the Vikings have reached the NCAA Division II National Championships three times, made three Super Regional appearances, captured three Central Region titles, and claimed five regular season and three NSIC tournament crowns. Melsted has mentored 86 all-conference, 44 NFCA All-Region and 20 NFCA All-America honorees, along with a combined 14 Player, Pitcher, Newcomer and Freshman of the Year winners and one NCAA Woman of the Year (2021). In addition to her coaching duties, the five-time NSIC Coach of the Year is very active in the NFCA, serving as the Association’s NCAA Division II Board Representative, while also serving multiple terms on the Division II All-America, Head Coaches and Top 25 Poll committees.
Walton is entering his 19th season at the helm of the Gators and 22nd season as a head coach. Over 21 seasons as a head coach, Walton has amassed a record of 1,049-287 which is good for a .785 winning percentage that ranks third among active NCAA head coaches with a minimum of 10 years of experience as head coach. In 2022, Walton eclipsed the 1,000-career win mark and became the second fastest NCAA Division I head coach to reach the milestone behind the legendary Arizona coach and NFCA Hall of Famer Mike Candrea. He is currently one of 11 active coaches in NCAA Division I with 1,000 career victories.
He led the Gators to back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2014 and 2015, eight Southeastern Conference Regular Season Championships, five SEC Tournament titles, 11 trips to the Women's College World Series and five WCWS Championship series appearances. Over the years, Walton has trained 24 players who were able to earn 48 NFCA All-America accolades. In addition, he coached three Collegiate Women Sports Award winners, two USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year recipients, an NFCA Division I Player of the Year winner, one NFCA Freshman of the Year recipient, five SEC Pitchers of the Year and five SEC Players of the Year.
For more information on the NFCA Hall of Fame and how to nominate click HERE.
