Richards senior Emily Chavosky was proud on April 16 to be the winning pitcher.
She fired a shutout in a 2-0 South Suburban crossover win over visiting Oak Forest.
But that wasn’t the reason for the pride. She was happy that she could play a major role in helping her coach, Julie Folliard, earn her 800th career victory and that was a special feeling.
“It was an honor for me because she’s been my coach forever,” Chavosky said. “I’ve had some big milestones under her coaching and I think it was great to celebrate one of her big milestones.”
Chavosky celebrated her 600th strikeout March 31 against Argo.
Folliard, a former Richards star who played for Larry Layne in the early 1980s, took over for him in 1989. Through April 16, she had won 800 games, 14 regional titles and a pair of sectional championships.
“When I started coaching, I knew that I loved sports,” Folliard said. “Coach Layne was my high-school coach and my mentor. I was excited about taking over for him.
“When Larry turned the program over to me, I knew that if I wanted to do it the way I wanted to do it, I would coach just one sport and put all my time into it. And it’s taken on a life of its own, I think.”
According to IHSA records, Folliard is fifth in the state for most career wins heading into the 2026 season.
Elk Grove’s Ken Grams, who is still coaching, leads the pack with 1,053, followed by St. Joseph-Ogden’s Randy Wolken (1,044), St. Viator and Barrington coach Perry Peterson (1,006) and Mount Zion’s Greg Blakey (814).
But more than the wins, Folliard is proud of watching the program thrive and play on a nice field on campus. The facility was built in 1996 and keeps getting better, as a press box was added last season.
“It’s a dream field and 30 years later it keeps evolving,” she said. “It’s amazing.”
What makes Folliard so successful?
“She always stays positive,” Chavosky said. “We never get yelled at. We never have to run for punishment. It’s more like, ‘Let’s work on the things that we’re doing wrong.’
“She keeps us motivated that way.”
Assistant coach Emily Wetzel, who played four years for Folliard and then at UIC, said Folliard has a passion for the sport and her players.
“She wants them to do well and wants them to succeed in softball and in life,” Wetzel said of Folliard. “Since I was a player, not much has changed with her.
“I think she will be out here for as long as she possibly can.”
Folliard has no intention of giving it up anytime soon.
“I love it and I still feel like I have a lot to share,” she said. “I have gained decades of information and I still stay current.
“I listen to the greatest of the great when I go to clinics. I’m an avid learner. And I still want to share that knowledge.”