University of Wisconsin-Whitewater head softball coach Brenda Volk was among 11 "Women* in Leadership" honorees at the annual Women's History Month Program on March 10.
 
Volk, who is in her 24th year as head coach, was recognized virtually for her leadership and positive influence on campus.  
 
The program recognized the contributions of 11 UW-Whitewater staff members for the 17th year. Each year, the Women's Issues Committee Women in Leadership Recognition event highlights women in different kinds of leadership roles on campus.
 
Volk has led the softball program to multiple successes over her nearly 24 years as head coach. She has led the Warhawks to nine Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships, eight conference tournament titles and 13 NCAA Tournament bids, including a national runner-up finish in 2008 and a national third-place finish in 2014. A six-time WIAC Coach of the Year, she enters the upcoming 2022 season with 680 wins, most of any coach in the conference's history.
 
Volk's teams have also been highly successful academically, posting a team GPA above a 3.0 in 20 of her 23 seasons. Ten of her student-athletes earned WIAC Softball Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete honors, and seven were named Academic All-Americans. Last season's team finished with a collective 3.762 GPA, and this year's team earned a 3.60 in the first semester.
 
Volk's teams have also been active in the community. In 2018, the Warhawks were featured in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article highlighting the team's annual holiday giving initiative. UW-Whitewater players and coaches pool money together to purchase toys for children battling cancer, children with incarcerated parents and other charitable causes.
 
"Brenda is a nationally recognized and accomplished coach at the Division III level and someone who cares deeply for her UW-Whitewater student-athletes and alumni," Director of Athletics Ryan Callahan said. "She has a long history of leading women to fulfill their potential in competition, in the classroom and in the community. She is most deserving of the Women* in Leadership Recognition."