Carthage College Athletics

Diane Mizerka, who coached the Lady Reds from 1968-80, was one of the pioneers of women’s athletics at Carthage. She came to Carthage in 1965 when women’s programs were barely in existence, and in the early years, coached nine sports. Mizerka later settled into coaching volleyball, basketball and softball. She compiled a 116-74 record in 13 seasons as women’s basketball coach. Her .611 winning percentage is the highest of all Carthage women’s basketball coaches, and she remains the only coach in the program to win more than 100 games. In volleyball, she was 190-204-24 in eight seasons, and in softball, she compiled a 57-39 mark in 12 seasons. Mizerka left the coaching ranks in 1982 to become Carthage’s first and only director of women’s athletics. She retired from that position in June 1985 and was inducted into the Carthage Athletic Hall of Fame later that year.