Ithaca College's Upper Terrace diamond was recently named "Doris Kostrinsky Field" in recognition of former faculty member and coach Doris Kostrinsky. The May 31 dedication ceremony was held in conjunction with Reunion '97 festivities at the College.
In a resolution by the Ithaca College Board of Trustees and presented to the legendary coach by president James J. Whalen, Kostrinsky was cited for her dedication to the College, her devotion to the students and to intercollegiate athletics, and her skill in developing highly successful programs. In addition to the softball honor, it was announced that a plaque noting Kostrinsky's field hockey accomplishments will be placed at Yavits Field, the College's field hockey facility.
"Doris Kostrinsky developed highly successful programs that consistently earned recognition at the state, regional, and national levels and created history by guiding the 1982 field hockey team to Ithaca College's first NCAA Division III national championship in women's sports," Whalen read. "Over the years, coach Kostrinsky earned the respect and admiration of generations of students, alumni, friends, and colleagues."
Former Ithaca softball standouts Nancy Kleinsmith '83 and Diane Para '86 gave Kostrinsky a framed overhead photo of the school's softball facility that now bears her name. An alumni softball game followed the ceremony and featured a team of alumni from the 1990s coached by current softball mentor Deb Pallozzi against a 1970s and 1980s unit led by Kostrinsky.
Kostrinsky's Coaching Records |
||||
Sport (seasons) |
Won |
Lost |
Tied |
Pct. |
Field Hockey (1969-95) |
282 |
135 |
23 |
.667 |
Softball (1970-1986) |
202 |
128 |
3 |
.611 |
Basketball (1969-75) |
43 |
16 |
0 |
.729 |
Golf (1988-95) |
17 |
13 |
0 |
.567 |
Totals |
544 |
292 |
26 |
.646 |
Kostrinsky coached field hockey, softball, basketball, and golf during her tenure at the College. The Bombers won the NCAA Division III field hockey championship in 1982 and reached the NCAA play-offs in 11 of Kostrinsky's last 13 seasons. Her softball clubs made three NCAA play-off appearances and the basketball program won the 1974 state crown under her guidance.
In 1984 she was inducted into the Ithaca College Sports Hall of Fame and 12 years later she was presented the 1996 Meritorious Service Award from the Ithaca College Alumni Association. A past president of the College Field Hockey Coaches Association, Kostrinsky was named the recipient of the 1994 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association Service Award.