WC Missouri News

Former University of Central Missouri Jennies softball head coach Rhesa Sumrell will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement was made on Thursday, September 25, during a press conference at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City.

Sumrell served as head coach for the Jennies softball team for 19 seasons. She led the team to seven NCAA tournament appearances and secured two regional championships in 1989 and 1997, resulting in fourth-place finishes both times. Sumrell holds the record for most wins in program history with 614 victories.

During her time at Central Missouri, she guided the team to four MIAA championships in 1988, 1994, 1995, and 1997. She was named NCAA Regional Coach of the Year three times (1991, 1994, and 1995) and earned MIAA Coach of the Year honors on four occasions (1989, 1994, 1997, and 2006).

In addition to her role with Jennies softball, Sumrell also worked as an assistant coach for the UCM volleyball team. During her tenure there, she helped secure 12 consecutive MIAA titles.

Before joining Central Missouri, Sumrell coached Missouri Western to a NAIA National Title in 1982. She has been recognized by several halls of fame: inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Missouri Western Hall of Fame in 1990. In addition, she is a member of both the Central Missouri Athletic Hall of Fame (2012) and MIAA Hall of Fame (2014).

Sumrell will be formally enshrined along with other members of the class of 2025 during a ceremony scheduled for Sunday, November 23 at the InterContinental Hotel at Country Club Plaza.