On April 8, BenU softball coach and alumna Kate Heidkamp (’96) was recognized during a ceremony when Benedictine University officially dedicated the softball field as Kate Heidkamp Field.

“This is a fitting tribute to one of our own,” said Benedictine University President Charles Gregory. “As a former player and coach, Kate has contributed much to the game of softball as well as women’s athletics. There is no better way to honor the impact she has made on our entire University than to name this venue.”

Currently the head coach of the softball team, Heidkamp has accumulated more than 650 wins since taking the helm in 1998, the most victories by any head coach in program history. She has established the softball program as one of the top programs in the region, consistently producing teams that challenge for the conference title and win close to 30 games annually.

Her success at Benedictine does not just involve coaching. Heidkamp is one of the most decorated players in program history and a member of the Benedictine Hall of Fame. She owns the highest winning percentage in the circle and won 80 games, the team record until it was broken by Hall of Famer Brittany Adcox in 2012. Heidkamp is first all-time in shutouts (41) and ERA (0.73) while sitting second in innings (645.2) and strikeouts (565) and third in complete games (86). Heidkamp owns the top four single season ERAs in program history and won 29 games in 1995 while twirling 30 complete games with 15 shutouts tossing a single season record 221.2 innings.

WATCH THE DEDICATION HERE