Awards

IUB Athletics Hall of Fame - 2012

Olympians - 2000

Softball

United States of America

Sydney, Australia

Softball

Gold Medalist

About Michelle Venturella

One of the most accomplished team sport athletes in IU history, Michelle Venturella won softball letters in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1995. The South Holland, Ill. native was named All-Big Ten in 1994 and 1995, Academic All-Big Ten in 1993, 1994, 1995, 2nd team All-America in 1994, 3rd team All-America in 1995 and IU Female Athlete of the Year in 1995. Michelle won IU's Big Ten Medal in 1995 and set conference records in batting average, total bases and runs batted-in in 1994. She holds IU season records for runs, doubles, home runs and runs batted in, while also owning the career record for runs batted in. She is 2nd on career lists for hits, 3rd in runs and home runs, and 4th in batting average. Michelle was a member of the USA softball team for six years, helping the United States to a gold medal in both1996 and 2000.. Michelle was also part of the 1998 World Championship gold medal team. Michelle is currently the head coach at University of Illinois-Chicago, position she has held since 2008. Prior to UIC, she was an assistant at Iowa for six years - including four as associate head coach, and an assistant coach at Northern Illinois for two years.