University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame
UW-Superior graduate and longtime Hurley High School softball head coach Jimmy Kivisto was named the Mertz Mortorelli Coaching Achievement Award recipient and enshrined in the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.
The award is given each induction year to one individual who displayed exceptional coaching abilities at any level, with the caveat that they were a UW-Superior graduate. Kivisto posted a record of 520-143 in 33 seasons with the Midgets and Northstars, winning more conference championships (23) than his teams had conference losses (19).
Kivisto coached 22 regional-championship and eight section-title teams with his teams finishing runner up in the state tournament on three occasions.
Kivisto currently boasts the fourth most coaching victories in the history of Wisconsin high school softball, with his teams dominating play in the Indianhead Conference.
Upon his graduation from UW-Superior, Kivisto dove headlong into life as a coach and educator, and he didn't have to go far to find his opportunity.
Along with team success, Kivisto also enjoyed plenty of personal success, having been named Indianhead Conference Coach of the Year 19 times. He was chosen to coach in two Wisconsin Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association All-Star Games (2008, 2022). In 2019, he was inducted into the WFSCA Hall of Fame, he will be inducted into the Hurley Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022, as well.
