One year after becoming the all-time leader in high school softball coaching wins in Michigan, Denny Dock of
Lakeshore (Stevensville) begins the 2025 season as the national leader for career wins among active coaches with 1,298 victories.
Dock's team went 25-5 last year to move him past Brad Walraven of
Frankenmuth (Mich.) for the all-time wins lead in Michigan. Walraven retired in 2023 with 1,292 wins. Dock is No. 1 on our list of 43 coaches who start the 2025 season with at least 700 victories.
Rick Robinson of
Norco (Calif.) began the spring with 699 wins and won his 700th on Feb. 18, so plan on seeing his name included in 2026.
Michigan and Iowa dominate the list with 16 coaches combined including the top five. Dock ranks No. 8 on the all-time wins list behind seven Iowa coaches, led by Larry Niemeyer of
Jefferson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), who retired in 2013 after 56 years with 2,089 wins.
Jim Flaws of
Carlisle (Iowa) comes in at No. 2 on the active list with 1,264 wins. His Wildcats went 37-8 last year and won the Class 4A championship in late July. Iowa plays its softball season during the summer.
Dock is one of 11 coaches on the active list who are the all-time leaders in their state. Others include Mike Crossley of
Newcastle (Okla.), Carol Mitchell of
Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.), Glenn Rutenbar of
Bartow (Fla.), Marie Crump of
Powhatan (Va.), Pat Bowlin of
Cotter (Winona, Minn.), David Mossor of
Ritchie County (Ellenboro, W.Va.), Alan Jones of
Ballard (Louisville, Ky.), Gary Mullins of
Turners Falls (Montague, Mass.), Guyla Smith of
West (Texas), and Scott McCormick of
South Salem (Salem, Ore.).
Ken Grams of
Elk Grove (Elk Grove Village, Ill.) could join the list of state leaders this year. He is five wins away from taking over the all-time lead in Illinois.
The list was compiled based on state association record books, state coaches associations, Cal-Hi Sports by Mark Tennis and Nelson Tennis, Texas High School Softball by Billy Hicks and various newspaper articles.
For any additions or corrections, contact kevinaskeland65@gmail.com.
Pictured here during last year's Class 6A title game in Florida, Glenn Rutenbar has led Bartow to eight state championships including five in a row from 2002 to 2006. (PHOTO: Brian Knight)
1. Denny Dock — 1,298
Career record: 1,298-335-2
Current team: Lakeshore (Stevensville, Mich.)Years coached: 1976-81, 1985-88, 1990-2024
2. Jim Flaws — 1,264
Career record: 1,264-235
Current team: Carlisle (Iowa)Years coached: 1983-2024
3. Tony Vruggink — 1,197
Career record: 1,197-289
Current team: Hudsonville (Mich.)Years coached: 1982-2024
4. Larry Heath — 1,179
Career record: 1,179-482
Current team: Burlington (Iowa)Years coached: 1985-2024
5. Howard Stuart — 1,157
Career record: 1,157-339-1
Current team: Richmond (Mich.)Years coached: 1979-2024
6. Mike Crossley — 1,149
Career record: 1,149-351
Current team: Newcastle (Okla.)Years coached: 1988-2024
7. Bob Bradfield — 1,118
Career record: 1,118-685
Current team: Fairfield (Iowa)Years coached: 1979-2024
8. Carol Mitchell — 1,058
Career record: 1,058-316-4
Current team: Gibbs (Corryton, Tenn.)Years coached: 1994-2024
9. Ken Grams — 1,039
Career record: 1,039-422-2
Current team: Elk Grove (Elk Grove Village, Ill.)Years coached: 1981-2024
10. Cheri Ritz — 1,037
Career record: 1,037-275-2
Current team: Wayland (Mich.)Years coached: 1991-2024
11. Tom Bakey — 1,012
Career record: 1,012-265
Current team: Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa)Years coached: 1997-2024
12. Kay Johnson — 1,005
Career record: 1,005-595-3
Current team: Morenci (Mich.)Years coached: 1972-2024
13. C.J. Urse Hawkins — 1,001
Career record: 1,001-429
Current team: Oak Mountain (Birmingham, Ala.)Years coached: 1996-2024
14. Perry Peterson — 971
Career record: 971-215
Current team: Barrington (Ill.)Years coached: 1992-2024
15. Jeff Cheadle — 920
Career record: 920-420
Current team: Laingsburg (Mich.)Years coached: 1987-2024
16. Glenn Rutenbar — 901
Career record: 901-157-1
Current team: Bartow (Fla.)Years coached: 1988-2015, 2018-24
17. Todd Merical — 890
Career record: 890-359
Current team: Dallas Center-Grimes (Dallas Center, Iowa)Years coached: 1991-2024
18. JoEllen Smith — 886
Career record: 886-581-1
Current team: Owosso (Mich.)Years coached: 1983-2024
19. Andy Behmlander — 873
Career record: 873-433-6
Current team: Reese (Mich.)Years coached: 1986-2024
20. Margaret Neill — 866
Career record: 866-252-4
Current team: Paraclete (Lancaster, Calif.)Years coached: 1981-2024
21. Marie Crump — 828
Career record: 828-132
Current team: Powhatan (Va.)Years coached: 1981-2024
22. Andi Adams — 825
Career record: 825-341
Current team: Fort Dodge (Iowa)Years coached: 1999-2024
23. Pat Bowlin — 819
Career record: 819-212
Current team: Cotter (Winona, Minn.)Years coached: 1983-2024
24. Wilma Wilson — 813
Career record: 813-419
Current team: South Haven (Mich.)Years coached: 1990-2024
25. David Mossor — 812
Career record: 812 wins
Current team: Ritchie County (Ellenboro, W. Va.)Years coached: 1985-2024
26. Brian Hess — 811
Career record: 811-355
Current team: Alexandria (Ala.)Years coached: 2001-24
27. Alan Jones — 806
Career record: 806-201-5
Current team: Ballard (Louisville, Ky.)Years coached: 1996-2024
28. Randy Stough — 794
Career record: 794-306-3
Current team: Prattville Christian Academy (Prattville, Ala.)Years coached: 1997-2024
29. Greg Blakey — 790
Career record: 790-323
Current team: Mt. Zion (Ill.)Years coached: 1992-2024
30. Gary Mullins — 782
Career record: 782-170
Current team: Turners Falls (Montague, Mass.)Years coached: 1981-2024
31. Guyla Smith — 772
Career record: 772-257-7
Current team: West (Texas)Years coached: 1991-2024
32. Debbie Schwartz — 762
Career record: 762-197
Current team: Donovan Catholic (Toms River, N.J.)Years coached: 1988-2024
33. Scott McCormick — 755
Career record: 755-348
Current team: South Salem (Salem, Ore.)Years coached: 1982-2019, 2021-24
34. Julie Folliard — 752
Career record: 752-339
Current team: Richards (Oak Lawn, Ill.)Years coached: 1989-2024
35. Andy Nussbaum — 748
Career record: 748-619
Current team: Naperville Central (Naperville, Ill.)Years coached: 1984-2024
36. Mike Teshkoyan — 746
Career record: 746 wins
Current team: Caldwell (West Caldwell, N.J.)Years coached: 1988-2024
37. Mike Noel — 744
Career record: 744-235-6
Current team: Clovis (Calif.)Years coached: 1995-2024
38. Judy Shaubach — 743
Career record: 743-365-8
Current team: Madera (Calif.)Years coached: 1989-2024
39. Tal Toliver — 742
Career record: 742-226
Current team: Normal University (Normal, Ill.)Years coached: 1995-2010, 2020-24
40. Lissa Walker — 733
Career record: 733-319
Current team: Port St. Joe (Fla.)Years coached: 1995-2024
41. Rob Weil — 732
Career record: 732-195-7
Current team: Los Alamitos (Calif.)Years coached: 1990-2024
42. Penny Reece — 724
Career record: 724-249-4
Current team: Bowling Green (Ky.)Years coached: 1999-2024
43. Stacy Evans — 713
Career record: 713-344
Current team: Indianola (Iowa)Years coached: 2000-24
