On March 11, 2000, the Illinois softball team won a game for the first time, defeating Coastal Carolina in the second game of a doubleheader. Illinois’ roster consisted of 25 walk-ons. Twelve years later, the Illini and head coach Terri Sullivan sit on the verge of capturing the program’s 400th victory this weekend.

Sullivan has led the Orange and Blue to all 398 victories since the program’s inception. With five games at this weekend’s USF Under Armour Invitational, the Illini could reach 400 as early as Friday.

“In coaching, any significant accolade that you have, it’s always because of the effort of your players,” Sullivan said. “That’s what it’s really about, all the players that have worked hard over the years.”

Sullivan, who played at Loyola (Chicago), was an assistant coach at UIC from 1993-99. During her time at UIC, Sullivan coached a third baseman by the name of Donna DiBiase for her final two collegiate seasons, including a senior season that culminated in a trip to the 1994 College World Series.

DiBiase is now Sullivan’s associate head coach at Illinois, and has also been with the program since the beginning. The first Illini softball team finished 13-17 in the 2000 season, when they did not compete in a conference.

“The neat thing about that year was that these young ladies were here when there was no softball and had the opportunity to represent the University of Illinois athletics as a varsity sport,” DiBiase said. “They came out and played their butts off. They listened and were willing to learn, and they’d run through a wall.”

The following season, the Illini improved their record to 49-23 and a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten.

Current Illini assistant coach Katie O’Connell was a part of Illinois’ first recruiting class and was a freshman on that 2001 squad.

“It was awesome to be a part of that team,” O’Connell said. “And to be a win away from going to the College World Series our senior year.”

O’Connell played under Sullivan and DiBiase from 2001-04, including the 2004 team that finished 45-21-1 and reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, the furthest the Illini have ever made it. After coaching at the high school level for several years, O’Connell returned to Champaign in 2008 to serve under her former coaches.

“(Sullivan) would be the first to tell you that we should already be at 500 wins,” O’Connell said. “She’s just that competitive. Even when things don’t go her way, she never uses excuses. She perseveres, and I think the players play like she coaches.”

Over the years, the Illini have reached four NCAA tournaments and have finished second in the Big Ten twice. Sullivan, whose father, Gene, coached basketball at Loyola and led the Ramblers to the 1985 Sweet 16, makes a point of listening to what her players and coaches have to say and has created a positive atmosphere throughout the Illinois softball program.

“When you come for our alumni game, you see people from every class coming back,” DiBiase said. “And I think that says a lot about how much respect they have for our program and for Coach Sullivan.”

As the Illini approach 400 wins, they also move closer to the 2012 Big Ten season. Sullivan said that while 400 victories is a great milestone for the program, the goal every year is “to win championships.” This year’s squad is no exception, and as it sits at 9-9, there is no lack of confidence in the demeanor of the players.

“One of (Sullivan’s) greatest strengths is that she’s a great motivator,” DiBiase said. “I think she gets players to do more than they know they can achieve.”