Bridgewater College

In his 23 seasons as head softball coach at Bridgewater College, Donnie Fulk took the program from its early stages and transformed the program into one of the best in the region. 

Fulk took the reins of the Eagles’ softball program in 1992, the fifth year of the program’s existence. In just his third season as head coach, the team hit the 20-win mark for the first time, finishing with a 24-9 record. 

The program continued to improve and in 2000 the Eagles received their first-ever national ranking, peaking at No. 19 in the Division III poll. The 2000 squad posted a 32-10 record. 

The 2006 Eagles’ squad finished 34-9 and was ranked in the South Region poll for most of the season. The team led the nation in hitting with a .386 batting average. 

The 2007 team reached new heights, posting a 40-8 record while topping the ODAC with a 17-1 mark. The Eagles lost in the ODAC title game but received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III tournament, the program’s first-ever appearance in the national tournament. Bridgewater lost to DePauw in the regional title game and finished the season ranked No. 19 in the NFCA Division III national poll. The Eagles led the nation in scoring, averaging 8.48 runs per game. 

Fulk’s 2009 team, made the program’s second trip to the NCAA Division III tournament, once again advancing to the regional title game where the Eagles lost to Salisbury. The team finished with a 36-11 record.  

Fulk finished his career with a 598-318-1 record. His teams finished atop the ODAC regular season standings in 1994, 2006 and 2007. Fulk was named ODAC Coach of the Year in 1996 and 2006 and was tabbed State Coach of the Year in 2006, 2007 and 2009. 

Bridgewater softball players earned 56 All-ODAC first team honors during Fulk’s tenure. He coach five All-Americans and three ODAC Players of the Year. 

In addition to his softball coaching duties, Fulk was the first head coach of the Bridgewater College men’s soccer program, coaching the team for six seasons. He then served as an assistant coach for the men’s soccer program from 1997-2002. Fulk also worked as the director of the Eagle Club from 2009 until his retirement. 

In recognition of his outstanding coaching career and his service to athletic department, Donnie Fulk is worthy of induction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame.