HONORING A SOFTBALL PIONEER
Following the path of honoring legendary coaches, Indian River State College announced the college's campus softball field will henceforth be known as "DALE ATKINSON FIELD". The announcement came today, April 15, 2022, in front of family, friends, President of Indian River State College, Dr. Timothy Moore and the members of the IRSC Athletic Department coaching staff.
Dale Atkinson has served as the Head Coach of the Indian River State College softball program for 24 seasons. He was hired by the late David "DOC" Anderson, Vice President of Student Affairs, as a part-time coach on September 18, 1998. In only four seasons, Atkinson led the 2022 team to an NJCAA National Title. On August 15, 2005, he was named a full-time employee of the college. His progression at the college also led to his naming as an Assistant Athletic Director. During his tenure, like the students he has mentored, Atkinson put value in education. He earned his AA Degree in Business Administration from Indian River in 2004, his BS in Social Science from Florida Atlantic University in 2005 and his MEd in Coaching and Athletic Administration from Concordia University of Irvine in 2013.
Under Atkinson's leadership, more than 200 players on the IRSC softball program have been named All-Southern Conference, 82 have been named FCSAA All-State and 27 earned NJCAA All-America distinction. His teams won the FCSAA State Championships in 2002, 2004 and 2005. During his tenure, eighteen Southern Conference Championships have been won and the softball program has a streak of twenty-two consecutive berths in REGION VIII post-season play.
Atkinson achieved his 1000th win as a Head Coach on February 28, 2020. All wins were secured at a single institution, Indian River. He has been inducted into the Indian River State College Pioneer Sports Hall of Fame (2019), the FCSAA Softball Hall of Fame (2014) and the St. Lucie County Athletic Hall of Fame (2002). He was honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as the Coach of the Year in 2002, and the Southern Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2006. Additionally, he has been recognized as the NJCAA Region VIII Coach of the Year five times (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006) and named Southern Conference Coach of the Year seventeen times.
Atkinson shared the moment with family and was quoted as saying, "This isn't about me, it is about the hundreds of kids I have been able to coach and hopefully make a positive difference in their lives".