|
|
Fred
Neering begins his seventh season at the helm of the SVSU softball
team. He became the 10th coach in the program's 21-year history when
he was hired in 1997. He has compiled a .578 winning percentage and 170 victories at SVSU. His 1999 squad posted 42 victories - fourth highest in the history of the program. Neering has twice been selected by Coast to Coast Softball to coach a traveling team of girls aged 16-19 in Australia. This summer, Neering will coach a travel team in the Netherlands. Before coming to SVSU, Neering served as an assistant softball coach at Bay City All Saints High School, helping the team to a 34-2 record, a league title, and a state runner-up finish. Neering also served as an assistant at Essexville-Garber H.S. and Pinconning Area H.S., where he helped the Spartans compile a 130-10 record during his tenure, including four NEMC titles, two MHSAA final four appearances and a 1993 state championship. In addition to his successful high school stints, Neering also has had extensive and successful summer league experience. He has guided squads to four state championships, finished runner-up in the state three times, and has a third-place World Series finish to his credit. Neering has coached in 13 state championship games at four different levels. His teams have made five A.S.A. national tournament appearances. Neering has been a part of over 780 wins as an assistant or head coach at five different levels of play. He helped organize the Bay City Classics Girl's Fast Pitch Club and presently is head coach and president of the board of directors. A native of Bay City, Neering is a graduate of Essexville St. John's H.S. where he was an all-state selection in baseball and basketball. Neering attended Bay City Junior College, now Delta College, where he also starred in baseball and basketball. He served as captain for the baseball team and earned all-conference, all-region and all-state junior college accolades. A 1963 graduate of Central Michigan University, Neering has compiled a 148-101-2 (.590) record in five seasons. Neering's 149 wins place him just 22 wins shy of Art Tolfree's (1986-1990) school-record 170 wins. Neering retired from General Motors in 1990 after 32 years working in personnel and manufacturing. He now works as a substitute teacher in the Essexville-Hampton school district. Neering and his wife, Judi, currently reside in Bay City and have a daughter, Ashley (30), a graduate of Michigan State University who lives in Atlanta, Ga. |
