Legendary Coach Donna Fields Announces Retirement

SAN ANTONIO — St. Mary's University Head Softball Coach Donna Fields (B.A. '87, M.A. '01) announced Tuesday she is retiring from Rattler Athletics after a notable career spanning nearly three decades.
 
"It's been a privilege to be able to coach at my alma mater for 27 years," Fields said. "I have had great support from the alumni base. My student-athletes have continued to come back and embrace our program, and it's been a true joy. It was definitely a hard decision on when, but a new chapter is opening with family."
 
Assistant Coach Ronnie Ladines will be appointed interim for the upcoming 2024-25 season.
 
Fields has been the Rattlers Head Softball Coach since 1998, accumulating an amazing record of 1,076-508. Her teams won 18 conference titles, four NCAA Regional titles and the 2002 National Championship. She is already a member of the St. Mary's Athletics, National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and Oliver Wendell Holmes High School Halls of Fame.
 
"I know this has been a very difficult decision for Donna. She has certainly been blessed with a wonderful career in intercollegiate athletics," said St. Mary's Executive Director of Athletics Robert Coleman. "There is little doubt she goes down as an iconic Softball coach within all divisions of the NCAA. Her accomplishments are numerous and extraordinary."
 
She also spent 21 years as the Senior Woman Administrator, taking on the role in 2003. She was on the NCAA Management Council and the Committee on Women's Athletics from 2004 to 2009 and served on the South Central Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) from 2002 to 2005 and 2012 to 2016. Fields recently wrapped up service on the Softball National RAC in 2022. She is also active in the NFCA and has served on several committees.
 
"She is St. Mary's gold and blue through and through," Coleman said. "I want to express my deepest gratitude for everything she has done for the University, the Athletics program, and the many successful teams she has coached. While her time as our coach may have come to an end, her legacy will live on forever."
 
As a three-sport scholarship athlete at St. Mary's, Fields made her mark in Volleyball, Basketball, and Softball, graduating in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. She was named an NAIA All-American in Softball as a left fielder her senior year and played on the 1986 Softball national championship team. Fields was also named to the All-Big State Conference and NAIA All-District Volleyball teams and was voted NAIA District IV Freshman of the Year in Basketball.
 
In her 24 seasons in NCAA Division II, Fields had 141 All-Conference selections, 22 All-American selections and 18 Academic All-District selections. In 19 seasons in the Heartland Conference, the Rattlers were awarded nine Heartland Pitcher of the Year honors (Malissa Magee-4; Emily Brittain-3; Vianna Gutierrez Touchtone-1; Staci Johns-1).
 
"I want to thank, from Day One until now, the colleagues and the people I've worked with," Fields said. "From Jim Zeleznak to Charle Migl and the late Coach Buddy Meyer and all the assistant coaches I've had. I've been truly blessed and thankful for the opportunity I've had, and I'll cherish these moments for the rest of my life. My kids have said they can't imagine the St. Mary's Softball team without me as a coach because that's all they've known, but it's time to find someone else who can keep it on the national level."
 
Jim Zeleznak (B.A. '79), who was Fields' head coach on the diamond and a co-worker and friend throughout her career at St. Mary's lauds her accomplishments.
 
"There are a lot of things that I could say about Donna that all boil down to how proud of her I am," Zeleznak said. "Having known her as both a student-athlete and as a coach, I've seen her extend the tradition of excellence that has been established within the St. Mary's softball program since its early days. I've seen her resolve in overcoming two major knee surgeries as a player to eventually be selected as a first-team all-American softball athlete. I've seen her lead her teams to a national championship, multiple NCAA tournament appearances, and numerous conference championships. But, most importantly, I've seen her demonstrate an unparalleled level of character for each student-athlete who passed through her program, each of whom has gone on to be extremely successful. I'm incredibly proud of all that she has accomplished throughout her playing and coaching career; knowing Donna, I have no doubt that she will continue to make a positive impact in whatever she chooses to pursue."
 
She returned to the University in 1998 after coaching and teaching at nearby William H. Taft High School for 10 seasons. In her three years as head coach, she posted a record of 58-12-1 with three playoff appearances and a district title. She also led the Taft Volleyball team for five years and was honored as the San Antonio Coach of the Year.
 
Fields also spent three seasons on the sidelines as an assistant volleyball coach for the Rattlers and cousin Laura Neugebauer Groff, helping the team go 80-26, advance to the NAIA Tournament in 1998 and win the Heartland Conference Tournament in the team's first full year in the NCAA.
 
By her side throughout her career has been husband, Andy Fields. The pair has three children Hannah (B.A. '16), Drew and Allison. Hannah played both Volleyball and Softball for the Rattlers, while both Drew and Allison were volleyball players at Texas A&M University. Hannah and her husband, Weston Heiligman (B.A. '13), had their first child in 2023.
 
Another staple in the coaching annals during Fields career has been Assistant Coach Leticia Morales-Bissaro (B.A. '86). Morales-Bissaro has worked with the pitchers every year, and the pair have been friends since playing together and helping the Rattlers to the 1986 NAIA National Championship.
 
"On one hand, I'm very sad she's retiring," said Morales-Bissaro. "She's a true example of how we describe the Marianist Charism when we are working with our prospective students, student-athletes and community. I can't think of a better person who demonstrates this on a daily basis. Actions speak louder than words, and she's truly one to lead by example. On the other hand, I'm so happy for her and Andy for this new chapter in their life of being grandparents, and I know they're looking forward to it. I know she will be missed, but she has helped prepare the current team for the goals they have set."
 
"I've been a multi-sport athlete since I was six years old, and it will be different not to have a schedule," Fields said. "I still feel I have something to give, but I don't know what that looks like yet. I want to be there for my family as it continues to grow with grandbabies. If someone in the family gets in a bind, I want to be there for them, like someone has always been with me throughout my career."