Crete-Monee to Name New Softball Field for Hall of Fame Coach Sue G. Antonio

CRETE, IL – A true Crete-Monee legend will be permanently honored at the district’s new athletic complex after the Board of Education unanimously voted Tuesday to name the softball field for celebrated former coach Sue G. Antonio.

The field will be officially named the “Coach G Field,” a nod to the affectionate nickname used by decades of her players. The decision followed a heartfelt public appeal from a community member who detailed G. Antonio’s extensive legacy as both a Crete-Monee student-athlete and a Hall of Fame coach.

“Sue has been a Crete warrior all of her life,” the speaker said, outlining a career that spanned 32 years from 1986 to 2017.

G. Antonio’s coaching accomplishments are extensive. She amassed 530 wins, led the Warriors to 10 SICA South conference championships, and secured a regional championship in 2005. She was inducted into the Illinois High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and was twice named Coach of the Year.

Beyond the trophies, her impact was measured in the success of her athletes, with 52 of her players going on to play college softball and two becoming college coaches themselves.

“Her dedication to every athlete, determination for a team win, and focus on success on and off the field is what made her coaching career victorious,” the speaker continued. “Her historic presence that she built on the softball field will be forever remembered.”

Board members discussed the naming, confirming that “Coach G Field” was the preference of the family. They also agreed that a plaque detailing her full name and a list of her accomplishments should be installed at the site to ensure her legacy is understood by future generations.

Board President Maurice Brown called G. Antonio a “true legend” after the presentation.

The newly named field is part of the district’s sprawling new athletic complex, which board members praised during the meeting. The project is rapidly progressing, with artificial turf recently installed on the new football field. The board expressed excitement for the facility’s opening day and the community benefits it will provide.