Wiggins’ name inscribed on FAMU softball field

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

  Former FAMU softball coach Veronica Wiggins couldn’t hold back her astonishment, although she knew for sometime leading up to Saturday’s ceremony that the field where she recorded hundreds of victories would be named in her honor.

Her name etched along the infield base path was coming into view, as she entered the field in a wheelchair wearing a boot on her left foot.

 “Who would have thought,” Wigging said while approaching the area where the ceremony took place.

The ceremony preceded a doubleheader that the Rattlers, now coached by Camise Patterson, played against Jacksonville University. As if to celebrate Wiggins, the team posted a 5-2 victory before dropping the second game 8-2. 

They couldn’t conclude the series Sunday due to lightning in the area, leaving the Rattlers with a split.

After the JU series, the team had one more non-conference game with Mercer, before going into SWAC play. They open that part of their schedule at 1 p.m. Friday to start a series against Alabama A&M in Huntsville. They close the series with a Saturday doubleheader, beginning at noon.

Before the series started with JU, one of the first things that Wiggins did was offer to encouragement to the players.

“We don’t let nobody come in this house and disrespect us,” Wiggins bellowed through the microphone.

 A huge crowed showed up for the ceremony on an overcast afternoon, some sitting on a hill behind the centerfield fence. Former FSU softball coach JoAnne Graf and current coach Lonni Alameda were also in attendance.

Wiggins led the FAMU softball program for 29 seasons, ending her career in 2020. At that point she  had a record that included 726 victories.

In 2017, Wiggins was the first HBCU coach to reach 700 wins. She was inducted into the FAMU Hall of Fame in 2006 and the MEAC enshrined her in 2022.

 Wiggins’ accomplishments also include eight appearances in the NCAA tournament and 13 conference championships. She was named MEAC coach of the year five times. 

“What an impact this woman has had on FAMU softball,” said Athletic Director Tiffani-Dawn Sykes. “My heart is overjoyed to see this actually come to fruition and for her to actually see it.”

Wiggins’ impact on softball was beyond the field. She appeared before the Florida legislature in 1994 to make an appeal for the game to move to fast-pitch in the state. The bill for a change was eventually passed.

Wiggins built her reputation without much fanfare while making a dynasty on the field located at the corner of Osceola Street and Wahnish Way. She was grateful in her return on Saturday.

“I’m here today to say ‘thank you’, ” she said. 

During the ceremony, several of her former players praised her for helping to shape their lives and to thank her.  Wiggins downplayed what she did for her players, saying nothing was more important than seeing them graduate.

“Seeing them walk off the stage; that’s my legacy,” she said.

Former standout Dawnshey Gilmore said she saw how selfless Wiggins was multiple times during her years on the team.

“She was just such a humble and loving woman,” Gilmore said. “No matter what her situation is, you are her situation. She has that about it. She makes you be about it. She is about business. Congratulations coach. We love you.”