University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Panther softball to retire Patty Stockman’s jersey on April 22
4/20/2026 1:41:00 PM | Softball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — UNI Athletics and Panther softball will recognize Patty Stockman, regarded by some as the best pitcher in the state of Iowa women's softball history, on Wednesday, April 22, during the Panthers' midweek matchup against the University of Iowa.
Stockman, who played for the Panthers from 1973 to 1977, will be in attendance for the pregame ceremony, as she will be recognized for her accomplishments with a banner bearing her name and number 20 jersey, along with a banner plaque.
"Patty is the perfect person for UNI's first softball jersey retirement," said head coach Ryan Jacobs. "We still use her as an example of what type of person and player we are looking for, someone who flourishes at UNI. Hardworking, humble, loyal, and competitive … what a perfect example of what UNI softball is all about!"
The ceremony for Stockman will be the fourth of 19 planned jersey retirements for UNI Athletics in 2026, following the announcement of the department's jersey retirement program as part of UNI's sesquicentennial celebration. The Panther wrestling program retired Bill Smith's jersey during their Feb. 14 dual against West Virginia, while the UNI men's basketball team recognized AJ Green on Feb. 15 vs. Drake, and the women's basketball program celebrated Jacqui Kalin on Feb. 28 in a matchup with the UIC Flames.
UNI will retire jerseys of iconic Panthers for other teams later this year, as well as for athletes whose sports are no longer sponsored by the university during the 2026 homecoming celebration at its All-Sports Reunion.
A native of Oxford, Iowa, Stockman came to UNI from Clear Creek High School in Tiffin, Iowa in 1973. A dominant pitcher at Clear Creek, Stockman led her high school team to two state titles in the fall of 1972 and the summer of 1973. She was an All-State athlete in three sports at Clear Creek in softball, track and field and basketball.
Stockman compiled an impressive 83-15 record in high school, pitching in every game during her three years at Clear Creek. She was named to the Iowa State Softball All-Tournament Team twice, the All-State team three times and the basketball All-Conference squad four times. During her senior year, she served as captain of all three squads for softball, basketball and track and field.
Stockman's dominance on the softball diamond continued when she arrived at UNI. Over four seasons with the Panthers, she posted a staggering 60-5 record and led the team to three state IAIAW titles and three Women's College World Series (WCWS) appearances. Behind her pitching, Northern Iowa placed second in the WCWS in 1975, finished in the top six in 1976 and won the national championship in 1977.
In her junior season, Stockman was nearly perfect in the circle, going 13-1 while pitching 95 innings. She faced 321 batters, striking out 120 and walking just ten. At the plate, she batted an outstanding .405. During the 1977 WCWS title series, Stockman threw 31 innings, allowing just one hit and striking out 32 batters. Over the entire tournament, she allowed only ten hits with no earned runs, while also leading batters with five RBIs.
Stockman consistently demonstrated a UNI-first mentality. In an interview with The Northern Iowan, Stockman said, "we play 84 games from May 28 through about August 20, but I told them I wouldn't be able to start right away. I am hoping UNI will be playing in the World Series again…" This came when she was asked about being drafted to one of the six professional women's softball teams at the time, the Buffalo (N.Y.) Briskies.
In the same interview, head coach Jane Mertesdorf noted that, "when you've got two pitchers like Pat and Michelle [Thomas], you don't ever have to worry about hassles on the field. They don't get wild or rattled and they never get tired so we can play one pitcher the entire game. They're both so great in handling all situations. Both are playing more intelligently this year than last and working to improve themselves all the time."
During her summers, Stockman pitched in the Amateur Softball Association, spending three years with Langhurst Motors in Marion and two years with the Des Moines Bomberettes. The Bomberettes finished with a 57-7 record and won an ASA title in 1976.
After graduating from UNI in 1977, Stockman played professionally for the Buffalo Briskies, compiling a 14-11 record in one season and earning All-Star Team honors. In 1979, she became the head coach of softball, girls' basketball and girls' track and field at Crestwood High School in Cresco, Iowa, where she posted a 40-22 record over six seasons on the softball diamond. She was inducted into the Iowa Girls Softball Hall of Fame in 1982 for her high school achievements.
Stockman later returned to school to earn her master's degree at the University of Iowa, where she served as an assistant softball coach from 1983 to 1985. She continued to be a dominant pitcher during this time, including a stint in 1985 pitching internationally in New Zealand for the Porirua Softball Club.
Stockman was inducted into the UNI Hall of Fame in 1988 as an individual, and again in 2008 as a member of the 1977 WCWS championship UNI softball team.
UNI softball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Softball), X (@UNISoftball), and on Instagram (@unisoftball). The 2026 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
