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Wellknown veteran softball-coach Margo Jonker serves as Pitching Coach for the Dutch National Softball Team during the World Championships in Beijing (China) in 2006.
The year before, she is part of the Dutch program in 2005 as a so-called Liaison Coach for the USA watching over the continuation of the technical programs for five Dutch national team-players, who are studying and playing in the USA at that moment, as well as recruiting possible Dutch-American players, who are eligible to play for the Dutch national squad.
When the Dutch National Team was in Akron (Ohio) on June 20, 2008 during its second American Trip, Margo Jonker (pictured right with Assistant Coach Mary-Ann Hatt) came by to visit the national squad and watch the game against the Akron Racers, one of the professional opponents (National Pro Fastpitch) of the Dutch team during this tour.
One month earlier, in May 2008, Coach Jonker completed her 29th season as Head Coach of the Chippewas, the softball-team of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant.
One of her players then was Ellen Venker, one of the catchers on the roster of the Dutch National Team.
Since 1980, Margo Jonker heads the Chippewas and since then builts a program in which Central Michigan University (CMU) consistently challenges for the Mid-American Conference (MAC) title.
Under her guidance, the Chippewas make 13 trips to the NCAA Championship Tournament and capture the most titles in the history of the Mid-American Conference (11).
One time, the team qualfies for the NCAA College World Series.
CMU was the MAC-champion in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002 and 2004 and captures the MAC-Tournament title in 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.
In 1982, the third season under Jonker, it sets a school record with 51 victories.
Throughout the years, there were several All-America, All-Region and All-Conference selections amongst her players.
On April 22, 2010, the Chippewas beat Michigan State 5-1, marking Coach Jonker's 1000th career victory with the team.
With this, she becomes the eleventh Division I Head Coach to reach this miletone.
After completion of the 2011 season, her 31st with the Chippewas, Margo Jonker has won 1039 games, lost 620, while five ended in a tie.
Margo Jonker not only is a very experienced coach, but is also well respected.
She is inducted into four Halls of Fame, including Grand Valley State University Hall of Fame (1989), Michigan Amateur Softball Hall of Fame (2000), West Ottawa School Hall of Fame (2001) and National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2003).
On April 19, 2008, Central Michigan University honors its softball-coach by naming CMU's softball facility Margo Jonker Stadium.
During her career at CMU, Margo Jonker is named MAC Coach of the Year nine times, Great Lakes Regional Coach of the Year twice and NCAA Mideast Region Coach of the Year once.
In 1987, she leads CMU to the Mid-American Conference and Mideast Regional titles to qualify for the College World Series and finishes with her team in fifth place overall.
At the end of the season, she is named NCAA Coach of the Year.
Margo Jonker also has been affiliated with Team USA and was its Assistant Coach in 1997, 1998 and 2000. In these years, the American National Team captured the gold medal during the World Championships in 1998 (Japan) and Olympic Games in 2000 (Sydney).
At numerous clinics throughout the world, Coach Jonker uses her softball-knowledge to lecture softball-coaches and players.
As a clinician, she also frequently visits the Netherlands to speak, including appearances during the annual Indoor Cup Tournaments in January in the city of Schiedam.
In 1976, Coach Jonker, who comes from Holland (Michigan), graduates from Grand Valley State University in 1976 and is named its Female Athlete of the Year.
She then remains with the school and softball-team to make her coaching debut, as she is the Pitching Coach of the Lakers from 1977-1979.
She is the Head Coach of West Ottawa High School in 1978-1979 and Head Coach of the volleyball-team of Hope College from 1976-1978.
In the Fall of 1979, Margo Jonker comes to Central Michigan University and takes over as Head Coach of the softball-team in the 1980 season, succeeding Marion Russell.
In the same year, she also is the Assistant Coach of the volleybal-team.
2010 --- On April 22, Margo Jonker wins her 1,000th career game as Head Coach in Division I, all with Central Michigan University.
2008 --- Central Michigan University names its softball facility Margo Jonker Stadium on April 19.
2006 --- In August-September, during the World Championships in Beijing (China), Margo Jonker is part of the coaching staff of the Dutch National Softball Team, serving as Pitching Coach.
2005 --- In January of this year, Margo Jonker is named USA Liaison Coach for the Dutch National Softball Team.
1980 --- In February, Margo Jonker makes het debut as Head Coach of the Chippewas, the softball-team of Central Michigan University.
1977 --- This season, Margo Jonker makes her coaching debut, as she is the Pitching Coach of Grand Valley State College. A year later, she is Head Coach for the first time, leading West Ottawa High School.
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