Tory Acheson to be inducted into Wisconsin Fastpitch Hall of Fame
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee Tech University softball coach
Tory Acheson will be inducted this weekend into the Wisconsin
Fastpitch Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame. The induction
will take place Sunday in Stevens Point, Wis.
Acheson is one of six people who will make up the inaugural Hall of
Fame class for the Association. One of the founders of the WFCA,
Acheson will be joined by Pete Kopplen (Marshfield HS), David Jones
(Plattville HS), Darrell Laschen (Loyal HS), Deb Malueg (Marion HS)
and Phil Adams (Ashwaubenon HS).
Now in his 11th season as head coach at Tennessee Tech and 17th
year as a collegiate head coach overall, Acheson's team plays this
weekend the Kennesaw State Tournament. He needs three victories to
reach his milestone 700th career coaching victory in the college
ranks.
Acheson helped establish the organization and served as the WFCA
Clinic Chairman in 1988. He served as president of the WFCA from
1989 to 1993, coaching at Whitnall High School before being named
head coach at UW Parkside in 1993. He came to Tennessee Tech in
1998. His selection for induction was based on a combination of his
service to the WFCA and his success as a high school and collegiate
head coach.
"I've been very fortunate throughout my career to have been
surrounded by good people," Acheson said. "Working with my wife
Terry has been a huge part of my coaching success. She and Chuck
(son) have always been willing to make the sacrifices that are a
part of the coaching profession. Coaching has been a family affair
from the start and makes this honor that much more meaningful.
"My Wisconsin ties are still pretty evident when you look at our
current team so I have to admit to being a cheese head at heart,"
he said. "I'm very proud to be honored by a group that is so near
and dear to my heart."
Acheson will be presented by Cindy Suess, head softball coach at UW
Oshkosh and current president of the association.
"I played against his players, I worked his camps at UW Parkside, I
have worked some of his summer camps, I know Tory very well, and
I'd play for him in a heartbeat," Suess said. "He's my lifeline.
When I have questions, on or off the field, I call him.
"He's a 'regular' guy. He's the same guy today as a D-I coach as he
was when he was coaching high school softball," she said. "He's
totally a blue-collar guy. I love the way he runs his program. He's
honest. He'll tell you the way that it is. He's a quality guy. He
breaks the game down well, and he teaches at a level that is well
understood by his players. His former players have great respect
for him, and enjoyed him as a coach. Many of his former players are
now coaching high school softball throughout Wisconsin."
Acheson is a native of Dubuque, Iowa, and a 1992 graduate of UW
Milwaukee.
