Grand Canyon Antelopes softball explained

Grand Canyon Antelopes softball
Founded:2004
University:Grand Canyon University
Conference:Western Athletic Conference
Conference Short:WAC
Division:West
City:Phoenix
Stateabb:AZ
State:Arizona
Coach:Shanon Hays
Tenure:1st
Stadium:GCU Softball Stadium
Capacity:1,200
Nickname:Lopes
Ncaa Tourneys:2022, 2023, 2024
Conference Tournament:WAC

2022, 2023, 2024

Conference Champion:2014, 2017, 2022, 2024

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.

History

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.[1]

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.[2]

Shanon Hays was hired as the program's second head coach on June 11, 2021.[3] 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.[4]

Conference membership (Division I only)

Coaching history

2004–2021 511–416-3
2022–present 136–42

GCU Softball Stadium

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.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: McCurdy . Jim . Pederson picked to launch Grand Canyon softball . 18 June 2022 . Arizona Republic . 19 Nov 2002.
  2. News: GCU announces softball coaching change . 18 June 2022 . GCULopes.com . 20 May 2021.
  3. News: Obert . Richard . Former Texas Tech coach Shanon Hays replaces Ann Pierson as Grand Canyon softball coach . 18 June 2022 . Arizona Central . 11 June 2021.
  4. News: Obert . Richard . Grand Canyon softball makes first NCAA Tournament regional, will face No. 5 UCLA . 18 June 2022 . Arizona Central . 19 May 2022.
  5. News: Cruz . Jeanette . Softball Stadium opener is truly Grand . 18 June 2022 . GCU Today . 18 Feb 2019.