SIUE

Already an SIUE Athletics Hall of Famer as an athlete, Sandy Montgomery becomes the first individual to also be selected as a Head Coach. The longest-tenured softball head coach in school history completed her coaching career with a record of 1,051-540-2 for a winning percentage of .660. Montgomery also started SIUE's volleyball program, serving as the first head coach and amassing a record of 83-54 over four seasons, while leading the volleyball Cougars to their first NCCA tournament appearance in 1998. Montgomery's 2006 softball team set the school standard for victories with 52 and advanced to the NCAA final eight. One year later, Montgomery led the Cougars to their first and only national championship. The 2007 team would later be inducted into the SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame. After the 2008 season, Montgomery shepherded the program through the transition from Division II to Division I. The Cougars won 40 games in their first season of Division I competition (2009) and won the OVC tournament title in 2014, earning the school's first bid to the NCAA Tournament since transitioning to Division I play. The 2014 also will join the SIUE Athletics Hall of Fame in 2026. Montgomery is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame, becoming the first OVC Coach to earn the honor.