The Pittsburg State University Athletics Hall of Fame will honor one of the early pioneers in women's athletics among its 15-member Class of 2026 in late October.

Mary Nutter came to campus in the fall of 1979 and hand laid the foundation for the Gorillas softball program, twice leading Pitt State to top five national finishes at the NAIA National Tournament during her seven-year tenure and thrice earning District 10 Coach of the Year honors for her efforts. In 1988, her accomplishments at Pitt State were recognized with her induction to the NAIA Hall of Fame. Despite her relatively short tenure, she remains the second-winningest head coach in program history four decades later.

Those accomplishments alone are more than enough for Nutter to posthumously take her place among the Pitt State greats, but her early days playing semi-pro and professional softball in her home state of Michigan and her subsequent 30-year run directing the largest, and most respected, softball clinics in the country cemented her legacy as one of the sport's elite trailblazers.

"Her finger prints are all over the history of softball," said Dr. Lori Boyajian-O'Neill, who played for Nutter in 1982-83 and served as a graduate assistant coach for the Gorillas in 1984.

Nutter founded National Sports Clinics, Inc. in 1987, following her coaching tenure at Pitt State, traveling the country to grow the game, providing access to the game's preeminent coaches and instructors as well as resources and equipment to help young coaches improve their programs. At its zenith, NSC reached nearly 4,000 coaches per year.

One of her frequent keynote clinicians was the University of Michigan's legendary head coach Carol Hutchins, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA softball history with 1,707 victories during her 38-year tenure. Hutchins knew Nutter, who passed away in July 2012 at age 65, longer than anyone in the game, playing alongside her from 1974-75 for the Lansing (Mich.) Laurels, one of the elite Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Women's Major fastpitch teams.

"Mary Nutter was just a larger-than-life figure," an epic compliment offered from Hutchins, who's widely regarded as one of the pillars of the game. "She took me under her wing as a young player with the Lansing Laurels. She loved life. Her passion for the sport, and for people, just gushed from her. She had a big heart; and, she did more for the sport, behind the scenes, than anyone."

Hutchins words ring true. In 1997, she introduced Nutter for her induction into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame in the Pioneer Category, a moment neither of them likely imagined when they were traveling the country with the Laurels.

It would be nearly two decades later that Hutchins and her Michigan team would compete in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Tournament owners Kirk Walker and Deb Hartwig made the decision to honor Nutter's memory and lifelong contributions to the game by renaming the Palm Springs Collegiate Classic in 2013.  The tournament draws fans from throughout the U.S. to watch some of the best NCAA teams in the nation. Last winter, the 22^nd installment showcased three teams that ultimately reached the 2026 Women's College World Series:  Nebraska, UCLA and national runner-up Texas Tech.

Former Pitt State player Traci Mayberry, who played for Nutter from 1982-85 and later became a business partner with her former coach at NSC, summed up her unique impact this way:

"Mary's career was centered around the sport of softball in one way or another for most of her life. Her impact was significant – both as a coach and a business owner – and her legacy lives on in a variety of ways, which is an amazing tribute to her.

"As great as her impact was on a sport, her impact on those in her orbit was even more remarkable. Ultimately, it was her goodness that set Mary apart … whether there was something to celebrate or a challenge to overcome, Mary was the one everyone turned to."

Even Nutter's rivals in the coaching world still sing her praises to this day.

"Oh, we hit it off from the get go," said Dr. Pat Lipira, who won 632 games as well as the 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship in a tenure that spanned from 1982-2000 at Missouri Southern. "We had a mutual respect for one another. I knew her teams would play hard and she'd have talented players who were well coached. I hope she felt the same.

"In today's world, everyone says how could two opposing coaches in the same conference be friends, but that wasn't hard with Mary. We could talk, laugh and have a good time; and then coach hard against each other, too."

Susan Mayberry, who like her sister, Traci, played four years on the diamond for the Gorillas and Nutter, said her coach's moral compass stood out to her as much as anything.

"She coached us hard, had high expectations and held us accountable. We were very focused on softball, but in the process of maintaining a winning program, she was also teaching us life lessons that have stayed with all of us long after leaving Pitt State."

"She had a servant's approach to life and led by example. As young adults, we learned a lot about how to conduct ourselves beyond our college years – her respect for herself and others, her ability to stay calm in every situation and her generosity made a lasting impact."

Boyajian-O'Neill left Pitt State and ultimately became a leading specialist in concussion care and sports medicine. The Arma native recently served as the team physician for USA Men's and Women's Volleyball at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. She perfectly summed up Coach Mary Nutter and her upcoming recognition.

"Mary was a spectacular human being," Boyajian-O'Neill said. "She understood the importance of relationships. She understood players are people first, not just softball positions. It was an honor for me to play for her.

"She was extremely knowledgeable, but what set her apart was her relationships with her players and peers. She was way ahead of her time, and she also carried small town values with her. I think of the phrase, 'you grow where you're planted.' She conducted herself with integrity and honor in good times and bad. She made situations better than she found them.

"There have been some tremendous coaches at PSU who have truly impacted their sports, but I don't think there's been anyone who had a greater influence in their sport as a whole than Mary Nutter."
 
 
Coach Mary Nutter will be inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame, along with 13 additional individuals and the 2016 NCAA Division II National Champion women's outdoor track & field team, in ceremonies Oct. 23-24 on the PSU campus. The formal induction ceremony Friday, Oct. 23, will take place at the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts at 6 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The group also will be honored at halftime of the Gorillas' football game vs. Central Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 24.