In 1987, Marietta College handed Jeanne Arbuckle more than a clipboard and a roster — it handed her a challenge. Build something lasting. Build a program that could shape student-athletes not just as competitors, but as students and people.
Arbuckle was hired as the head Softball and Volleyball coach in 1987. Then-Assistant AD Debbie Lazorik and the late Mary Jo Herdman, Chair of the Physical Education Department, were asked to hire a new softball/volleyball coach. Arbuckle knew what she was doing on the field because she had a background in softball, so Lazorik and Herdman posed questions about recruiting and how to get softball alumni re-engaged in the College.
“Jeanne created a positive, thriving environment, and as a result, the winning came with it. In sports, you hear about culture. That’s what Jeanne brought. She brought a culture to the program at a time when there wasn’t a whole lot of emphasis on women’s sports — there wasn’t yet a profile for women’s programs,” Lazorik said.
That culture — rooted in academics, athletics, and relationships — became the foundation of Marietta softball. On April 18, that foundation will be honored in a very visible way, as the Jeanne Arbuckle Field is dedicated during Softball Community Day festivities and just before Coach Jenn Castle’s squad takes on Baldwin Wallace in an OAC double-header. The ceremony starts at 12:15 p.m. and first pitch is at 1:00 p.m.
Years in the making, the renovation project has inspired support from donors at every level and reflects the growth of a program that Arbuckle helped build from the ground up. The upgraded facility includes new field turf, lights, and a scoreboard, elevating both the student-athlete experience and the program’s future. While the team is already competing on the new field, the April 18 celebration brings together alumni, donors, and community members to mark the moment.
“One day this fall, early this fall, I took a walk down there when there was nobody around just to look at it and it was just amazing,” Arbuckle said. “It’s such a beautiful first-class facility.”
The Marietta Area Chamber of Commerce will spearhead the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and former players, foster families, and friends are especially encouraged to attend. The day will feature Community Day activities, a doubleheader, and the formal dedication ceremony.
“When we hired Jeanne, our softball program was a hodgepodge of assistant football coaches. We hired her to build an actual softball program — that’s what she brought to Marietta College. She brought the package — academics, athletics, relationship building and community,” Lazorik said. “So when I heard (about the field naming), I thought, ‘Of course, what else would we do?’ because her name is synonymous with Marietta College softball.”
For Arbuckle, the honor came as an unexpected moment.
“President (Kathleen Poorman) Dougherty called me, and of course I wondered, ‘Why is the president calling me?’ And then when she told me, I was literally speechless. I was just so caught off guard and surprised and it’s just nothing that I ever imagined,” Arbuckle said.
Across 31 years at Marietta, Arbuckle built more than a competitive program — the Hall of Fame Coach whose teams amassed more than 570 wins built a culture that prioritized the full student-athlete experience.
That impact extended far beyond wins and losses.
“Coach Arbuckle did all this while never sacrificing her ‘student-first’ beliefs,” said Athletics Director Larry Hiser. “She had a genuine passion for ensuring each student, regardless of their background, had great college education and experience. I watched countless alumni, many who were never softball players, make a beeline for her office as soon as they got to campus to reconnect with her because of the impact she had on them as students.”
From a program once searching for identity to a facility that reflects its strength, Marietta softball has come full circle.
“It never felt like work. It was always a lot of fun. It was a wonderful opportunity for me. I felt lucky because not everybody can say that about their career,” Arbuckle said. “I had great support from the faculty and staff. There are so many people who contributed to me staying at Marietta for 31 years. There’s no doubt that the people over the years are what have made the difference for me. The players and their families, foster families, the community, my assistant coaches — and I’ve had some really good ones, including Coach Castle — and the College administration, the Athletics Department, Larry Hiser and Debbie Lazorik. The relationships that I was able to make with so many people, I think that’s what sustained me and allowed me to have such an enjoyable experience.”