In 2002, GCU announced it would start a softball program that would compete in the 2004 season. On November 18, 2002, it announced the hiring of Arizona State assistant coach Ann Pedersen as its first head coach.[2]
GCU qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times at the Division II level (2010, 2012, 2013).
The Lopes won the Western Athletic Conference regular-season championship in their first year (2014) at the Division I level. GCU also won the regular-season title in 2017.
GCU and Ann Pierson parted ways on May 20, 2021, after the program posted back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 2008.[3]
Shanon Hays was hired as the program's second head coach on June 11, 2021.[4] In Hays' first season, he brought in 15 newcomers and led Grand Canyon to its third WAC regular-season title, first WAC Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance.[5]
Conference membership (Division I only)edit
2014–present: Western Athletic Conference
Head coaches (Division I only)edit
Ann Pierson was the head coach for 10 Division II seasons (2004-2013) not reflected below.
GCU Softball Stadium is a softball stadium on the Grand Canyon campus in Phoenix, Arizona that seats 1,200 people. The new artificial turf playing surface was used in the 2017 season while a permanent stadium was built around it and opened on February 8, 2018.
GCU Softball Stadium replaced Stapleton-Pierson Stadium as the primary venue for the program.[6]
^"Grand Canyon University Athletic Brand Standards". September 20, 2018. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
^McCurdy, Jim (19 Nov 2002). "Pederson picked to launch Grand Canyon softball". Arizona Republic. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
^"GCU announces softball coaching change". GCULopes.com. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
^Obert, Richard (11 June 2021). "Former Texas Tech coach Shanon Hays replaces Ann Pierson as Grand Canyon softball coach". Arizona Central. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
^Obert, Richard (19 May 2022). "Grand Canyon softball makes first NCAA Tournament regional, will face No. 5 UCLA". Arizona Central. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
^Cruz, Jeanette (18 Feb 2019). "Softball Stadium opener is truly Grand". GCU Today. Retrieved 18 June 2022.
External linksedit
GCULopes.com Softball
January 01, 1970
grand, canyon, antelopes, softball, team, represents, grand, canyon, university, ncaa, division, college, softball, team, participates, western, athletic, conference, lopes, currently, head, coach, shanon, hays, team, plays, home, games, softball, stadium, loc. The Grand Canyon Antelopes softball team represents Grand Canyon University in NCAA Division I college softball The team participates in the Western Athletic Conference The Lopes are currently led by head coach Shanon Hays The team plays its home games at GCU Softball Stadium located on the university s campus Grand Canyon Antelopes softballFounded2004UniversityGrand Canyon UniversityHead coachShanon Hays 1st season ConferenceWAC West DivisionLocationPhoenix AZHome stadiumGCU Softball Stadium Capacity 1 200 NicknameLopesColorsPurple black and white 1 NCAA Tournament appearances2022 2023 2024Conference Tournament championshipsWAC 2022 2023 2024Regular Season Conference championships2014 2017 2022 2024 Contents 1 History 1 1 Conference membership Division I only 1 2 Head coaches Division I only 2 GCU Softball Stadium 3 Year by year NCAA Division I results 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editIn 2002 GCU announced it would start a softball program that would compete in the 2004 season On November 18 2002 it announced the hiring of Arizona State assistant coach Ann Pedersen as its first head coach 2 GCU qualified for the NCAA Tournament three times at the Division II level 2010 2012 2013 The Lopes won the Western Athletic Conference regular season championship in their first year 2014 at the Division I level GCU also won the regular season title in 2017 GCU and Ann Pierson parted ways on May 20 2021 after the program posted back to back losing seasons for the first time since 2008 3 Shanon Hays was hired as the program s second head coach on June 11 2021 4 In Hays first season he brought in 15 newcomers and led Grand Canyon to its third WAC regular season title first WAC Tournament title and first NCAA Tournament appearance 5 Conference membership Division I only edit 2014 present Western Athletic Conference Head coaches Division I only edit Ann Pierson was the head coach for 10 Division II seasons 2004 2013 not reflected below Season Coach Years Record Pct 2014 2021 Ann Pierson 8 216 178 548 2022 present Shanon Hays 1 39 16 709 Totals 2 coaches 9 seasons 255 194 568GCU Softball Stadium editGCU Softball Stadium is a softball stadium on the Grand Canyon campus in Phoenix Arizona that seats 1 200 people The new artificial turf playing surface was used in the 2017 season while a permanent stadium was built around it and opened on February 8 2018 GCU Softball Stadium replaced Stapleton Pierson Stadium as the primary venue for the program 6 Year by year NCAA Division I results editSeason Conference Coach Overall Conference Notes Games Win Loss Tie Games Win Loss Tie 2014 WAC Ann Pierson 48 27 21 0 15 12 3 0 WAC regular season champions 2015 WAC Ann Pierson 50 28 22 0 15 9 6 0 2016 WAC Ann Pierson 50 35 15 0 15 10 5 0 2017 WAC Ann Pierson 54 36 18 0 15 11 4 0 WAC regular season champions 2018 WAC Ann Pierson 59 31 28 0 14 8 6 0 2019 WAC Ann Pierson 57 33 24 0 18 12 6 0 2020 WAC Ann Pierson 27 7 20 0 0 0 0 0 2021 WAC Ann Pierson 49 19 30 0 17 8 9 0 2022 WAC Shanon Hays 55 39 16 0 24 19 5 0 2022 WAC Tournament ChampionsNCAA RegionalsSee also editList of NCAA Division I softball programsReferences edit Grand Canyon University Athletic Brand Standards September 20 2018 Retrieved December 22 2022 McCurdy Jim 19 Nov 2002 Pederson picked to launch Grand Canyon softball Arizona Republic Retrieved 18 June 2022 GCU announces softball coaching change GCULopes com 20 May 2021 Retrieved 18 June 2022 Obert Richard 11 June 2021 Former Texas Tech coach Shanon Hays replaces Ann Pierson as Grand Canyon softball coach Arizona Central Retrieved 18 June 2022 Obert Richard 19 May 2022 Grand Canyon softball makes first NCAA Tournament regional will face No 5 UCLA Arizona Central Retrieved 18 June 2022 Cruz Jeanette 18 Feb 2019 Softball Stadium opener is truly Grand GCU Today Retrieved 18 June 2022 External links editGCULopes com Softball Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grand Canyon Antelopes softball amp oldid 1223418961, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
