Texas Woman's University Athletics

Willie Rucker came to TWU not even knowing there was a softball team. She was impressed with the school's academic program, earned a spot on the roster as a catcher and helped TWU to a national championship. The Pioneers had to defeat UCLA in back-to-back games in the 1979 AIAW/ASA Women's College World Series. Rucker, a native of Amarillo, Texas, was the catcher for pitching ace Kathy Arendsen during the finals against the Bruins. Rucker was instrumental in saving at least two of TWU's games in that national championship tournament.

During her collegiate career, TWU brought home two state and regional titles, a fourth-place national finish and a national title. Her senior year, she was nominated for both the TWU President's Award and the Broderick Award. She served as an assistant coach from 1979-81 and received her degree in physical education in Dec. 1980.

As a player, Rucker was a member of the Edmonton Snowbirds of the Women's Professional Softball League, earning all-star status and Rookie of the Year honors. From 1982-86, she was a player/coach for the Budweiser Belles in the ASA Women's Majors.

Taking the coaching path, she served two years as an assistant at Trenton State College, earning her master's in administrative physical education while helping Trenton State to a NCAA Div. III national title in 1983. She was the assistant volleyball coach at Rutgers University before her appointment as head softball coach at Montclair State. At MSU, Rucker compiled an impressive 209-87 record, her teams made seven NCAA regional appearances, and they earned three berths in the NCAA Div. III World Series. The Red-Tailed Hawks were nationally ranked in each of her last five seasons, and in 1989 became the first school other than Trenton State to win the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship. She coached eight NCAA Div. III All-Americans.

In 1987, Rucker was nominated to coach the U.S. in the Pan Am Games. She was named the 1989 Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, and left MSU as its all-time winningest softball coach. She moved to Western Oregon State College where she coached the Wolves for eight seasons. In 1995, she was voted Cascade Conference Coach of the Year. She coached two NAIA All-Americans during her tenure there and improved her overall collegiate coaching record to 358-243 (.596).

Rucker has been involved with the Women's Professional Fastpitch League since 1995 when she co-coached one of the six inaugural teams. She became the assistant coach of the Virginia Roadsters in 1997, then was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Diamonds. The Diamonds finished the 1999 season with a record of 33-35, missing the playoffs by only two games.

Throughout her career, she has served on numerous NCAA committees and was an executive board member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Rucker was the head softball coach at Appalachian State University from 2000-07.