Gayle Blevins
Encyclopedia
L. Gayle Blevins is a former college softball
coach. She was the head coach at Indiana University from 1980 to 1987 and at the University of Iowa
from 1988 to 2010. WIth 1,245 win in 31 years as a head coach, Blevins ranks second all-time in NCAA Division I softball coaching victories.
, and a 1973 graduate of the University of Dayton
in 1973.
softball titles in 1980, 1983 and 1986. She had two 45-win seasons in 1982 and 1986 and a 47-win season in 1984. In 1986, she was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by the National Softball Coaches Association after her Indiana Hoosiers team finished in third place in the Women's College World Series
. In eight years as the head coach at Indiana, Blevins compiled a record of 300 wins, 146 losses and 2 ties for a .672 winning percentage.
. She was the head softball coach at Iowa for 23 years from 1988 to 2010. Blevins won 40 or more games in 13 of her 23 years at Iowa, including a career-high 53 wins in 1991, 52 wins in 1997 and 50 wins in 2005. She also led the Hawkeyes to 16 NCAA tournaments, four Women's College World Series appearances, five Big Ten regular season championships, and two Big Ten Tournament titles.
Blevins was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
in 1999, and the Indiana University Hall of Fame in 2005.
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
coach. She was the head coach at Indiana University from 1980 to 1987 and at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
from 1988 to 2010. WIth 1,245 win in 31 years as a head coach, Blevins ranks second all-time in NCAA Division I softball coaching victories.
Early years
Blevins is a native of Dayton, OhioDayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, and a 1973 graduate of the University of Dayton
University of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
in 1973.
Indiana University
Blevins was the head softball coach at Indiana University from 1980 to 1987. She led the Hoosiers to Big Ten ConferenceBig Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
softball titles in 1980, 1983 and 1986. She had two 45-win seasons in 1982 and 1986 and a 47-win season in 1984. In 1986, she was named NCAA Division I Coach of the Year by the National Softball Coaches Association after her Indiana Hoosiers team finished in third place in the Women's College World Series
Women's College World Series
The Women's College World Series is the final portion of the NCAA Division I Softball Championship for college softball in the United States. The tournament format consists of two four-team double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket then compete in a best-of-three title game series...
. In eight years as the head coach at Indiana, Blevins compiled a record of 300 wins, 146 losses and 2 ties for a .672 winning percentage.
University of Iowa
In July 1987, Blevins accepted the head coaching job at the University of IowaUniversity of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
. She was the head softball coach at Iowa for 23 years from 1988 to 2010. Blevins won 40 or more games in 13 of her 23 years at Iowa, including a career-high 53 wins in 1991, 52 wins in 1997 and 50 wins in 2005. She also led the Hawkeyes to 16 NCAA tournaments, four Women's College World Series appearances, five Big Ten regular season championships, and two Big Ten Tournament titles.
Coaching records and Halls of Fame
Blevins announced her retirement in June 2010. In 31 years as a head coach, Blevins compiled a record of 1,245 wins, 588 losses and 5 ties. At the time of her retirement, Blevins was the second-winningest softball coach in NCAA Division I history. She never had a losing season at Iowa or Indiana.Blevins was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
in 1999, and the Indiana University Hall of Fame in 2005.
See also
- National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameNational Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of FameThe National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame was established in 1991 to recognize coaches who have made extraordinary contributions to the sport of softpitch softball. The National Fastpitch Coaches Association is a professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches from all...
- List of college softball coaches with 800 career wins