FAYETTE Mo. – In the 9-1 win yesterday against No. 25 nationally ranked Baker University, Central Methodist head softball coach Pat Reardon secured a milestone victory.
Reardon, who is in his 26th season as the Central Methodist head softball coach, picked up win number 750 in his career. He is currently the winningest coach in the Heart of America Athletic Conference and in the Top 10 of the NAIA active softball coaches' career wins list.
"It takes a lot of great players, coaches and administrators to get to this point. I am so proud of how this program has grown and the things we have accomplished. I honestly did not realize I had reached 750 until my Dad shook my hand and said congrats. I am so thankful to have the support of my family in this endeavor, my wife who is my constant support system, my mom who is my number one fan and of course the opportunity to coach with my Dad and coach my daughter, both have been great and sometimes I think they feel the weight of the challenges of our program more than I do," stated head coach Reardon on his milestone.
"I'm very proud of Patrick's achievement in reaching 750 wins. Especially in that they have all been attained at Central Methodist University. But even more proud of the way he gets the players to even greater accomplishments in the classroom, as Academic All-Americans. As I told him and the team their success is my sole professional objective, and it has been extremely rewarding in seeing players win championships, or be personally recognized for achievements of distinction, as well honored as scholar athletes and graduates of Central Methodist University. All overseen by head coach Pat Reardon," said assistant coach and dad, Gene Reardon, who has been along for the journey since 2003.
Reardon has been a part of Central Methodist University since 1986, when he first arrived on campus on a soccer scholarship. He took his first coaching position in 1991, at Central Methodist, and has been a part of the growth in the university and softball program as a whole.
"I can still remember the days the Eagles played at the Fayette City Park early in Coach Reardon's career. The way Coach Reardon has transformed our softball program is unbelievable. This win indicates the level of commitment he has had for CMU and the softball program for the past 26 years. I say thank you and congratulations to a great coach but a better person," said Ken Oliver, Vice President for Institutional Growth and Student Engagement.
"It's a tremendous accomplishment for a coach and a program that just keeps rolling. Pat and his staff do a terrific job of developing players and taking care of all the things that matter for a championship level program," said Athletic Director, Brian Spielbauer.
During his time at Central Methodist, Reardon has guided the Eagles to six Heart of America Athletic Conference regular season championships (2011-16), 10 seasons of 30 or more victories in the last 11 years, and the championship game of the National Championship Opening Round Columbia Bracket in 2014. He has picked up seven conference Coach of the Year honors and his staff has earned six National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NAIA Midwest Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
His team is currently 33-7 on the year and sitting first in the South Division of the Heart and second overall, with a 23-5 record. As a unit, the team is ranked nationally in the top 10 in five different statistical categories; second in home runs (1.175), fifth in slugging percentage (.551), seventh in runs batted in per game (6.475), ninth in opponent batting average (.208), and 10th in runs scored per game (7.100).
Coach Reardon and the Eagles will return to action today, April 25th, as they host Avila University in the Heart of America Athletic Conference action. Game time is scheduled for 4:00pm.
