Ed McQuade went out to dinner with his family last week after winning his 800th game.

It was a low-key celebration for Greenway’s softball coach, but that’s the way McQuade, who extols the importance of family to his players, prefers it. aia365.com doesn’t keep track of softball coaching records, but McQuade is likely the state’s all-time leader in softball coaching victories.

His 801 wins rank No. 14 on the nation’s all-time high school coaching softball career wins list. McQuade is in his 35th season as Greenway’s softball coach, the only school the 63 year old has coached softball at.

“I’m still having fun,” he said Monday.

McQuade first applied for a baseball job when he joined Greenway, but his destiny was softball.

Remarkably, Greenway has failed to reach the playoffs only three times (McQuade’s first and third seasons and in 1989) and won at least 20 games each season from 1990-2010 under McQuade. The off-campus coach’s message to his players has softened.

“When I was younger I was a lot harder on the kids,” he said. “But I’ve figured out that you can get things done without getting on the kids as hard.”

That’s a great message for young coaches from a wise coach who changed his approach but not his winning ways.

McQuade is 5-2 in title games appearances and has helped produce five state players of the year, and neither of the POYs were “prima donnas.”

“I enjoy what I do,” McQuade said. “It’s been fun. I’ve had some great coaches and players. Greenway has been real good to us.”