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'She broke barriers': FAMU honors legendary softball coach Veronica Wiggins with field renaming
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- 'She broke barriers': FAMU honors legendary softball coach Veronica Wiggins with field renaming
The turf of Florida A&M's softball complex will forever read "Veronica Wiggins Field."
Ahead of FAMU's Saturday doubleheader versus Jacksonville University, legendary Rattlers head softball coach Veronica Wiggins watched her name unveiled on the field that she built a powerhouse softball program.
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FAMU's softball field bears Wiggins' name in orange writing with a white outline between the home plate and the first base and the home plate and third base.
FAMU administration and former Rattlers softball players spoke about their experience with Wiggins in front of a packed crowd at the pregame ceremony.
"It's overwhelming," Wiggins said of her field namesake honor.
"This would not be possible without the student-athletes who put FAMU on their back and the program in their heart. I'm here to say thank you."
A FAMU and Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Famer , Wiggins coached the Rattlers from 1992 to 2020. She oversaw FAMU winning 13 MEAC Championships and 726 games. Wiggins is the only HBCU head coach to win over 700 games and has the most wins as a head coach in FAMU sports history.
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The Miami native Wiggins earned five MEAC Coach of the Year honors. Additionally, Wiggins led FAMU to eight NCAA Regionals and coached the program to its first and only national tournament win in 2006 when the Rattlers beat Mississippi Valley State 7-5 in the Tuscaloosa Regional .
"We're grateful to bestow this honor upon Coach Wiggins," said FAMU Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Tiffani-Dawn Sykes .
"She broke barriers. She is the one who stood up and advocated for women in sports leadership roles. So, I'm grateful to be a part of her legacy."
FAMU, MEAC Hall of Fame softball coach Veronica Wiggins highly-regarded
FAMU softball players gather for a pep talk from head coach Veronica Wiggins during the MEAC tournament.
Current FAMU head softball coach Camise Patterson got her start in coaching under Wiggins. She joined Wiggins' FAMU coaching staff in 2016 as a volunteer assistant.
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After nearly a decade as an assistant, Patterson got hired as FAMU's head softball coach in 2023.
"It's not often that a legend like Coach Wiggins comes along," Patterson said.
"Being able to coach under her has allowed me to witness her passion for the sport, her love for her players and their families, her determination to grow women's sports, and the fire she brings to all parts of her life. Her guidance and mentorship have helped many, including myself, push past limits, break barriers, and advocate for themselves and others.
"She is the true definition of The GOAT ."
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Former Florida State softball coach JoAnne Graf and current Seminoles coach Lonni Alameda were in the crowd supporting Wiggins.
Graf and Wiggins built a strong connection as they led Tallahassee's university softball programs.
Wiggins calls Graf her "mentor."
"When someone calls you their mentor, it's very complimentary. It means a lot that she felt like that," Graf spoke of Wiggins' comment. "We've had such a good relationship and a friendly rivalry over the years."
Wiggins has impacted the lives of many affiliated with FAMU softball.
Graduate student Mia Blasingame is the only current holdover from Wiggins' final FAMU team in 2020. Blasingame participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
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"It's a joy to see all the young ladies taking care of themselves and matriculating it on. My legacy is seeing them walk across the stage and become mothers," Wiggins reflected.
"When you've been involved in something, you want to see it progress. That's what we're seeing today."
FAMU and Jacksonville split in Saturday's doubleheader.
The Rattlers won the first game 5-2. The Dolphins defeated the Rattlers 8-2.
FAMU and Jacksonville will meet again Sunday at 2 p.m. on Veronica Wiggins Field for their third and final game of the series.
Gerald Thomas, III covers Florida A&M University Athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@tallahassee.com or on the app formerly known as Twitter @3peatgee .
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Softball: Rattlers' field named after revered coach Veronica Wiggins
