Coach Ralph Raymond didn’t just coach icons, he was an icon in the midst of icons. Coaching such names as Lisa Fernandez, Dot Richardson, Michelle Smith, and a list of Softball Royalty too long to list; He not only guided players, but helped shape the sport into what we see today. Raymond passed away today just days shy of his 95th birthday at his home in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Raymond coached Team USA to two Gold Medals in the first Games that softball was offered as part of the Olympic Program in 1996 in Atlanta, and then again in 2000 at the Sydney Games. He also won five ISF World Championships and captured Gold three times in the Pan American Games leading the Red, White, and Blue. He compiled an international record of 332-9 coaching Team USA.
While guiding the US National Program he also coached the legendary Raybestos Brakettes to 18 Women’s National Championships while compiling a 1,192-162 record.