GCU Softball Camps
Head Coach Shanon Hays
Shanon Hays was named the second head coach in the history of the Grand Canyon softball program on June 6th, 2021.
Shanon Hays was named the second head coach in the history of the Grand Canyon softball program on June 6th, 2021.Hays has racked up 554 career victories (an average of 40 per year) in 14 seasons as a softball head coach, and holds a .725 winning percentage.
In 2023, the Lopes earned their second consecutive WAC Championship Tournament title, and returned the NCAA Los Angeles Regional where they defeated No. 2 UCLA for their first post-season victory in program history. Hays has now coached the winningest season in GCU softball history (47 wins), with three athletes on the NFCA All-West Region team, five on the All-WAC first team, three on the conference All-Defensive team, and the WAC Defensive Player of the Year.
The historic 2023 season also featured, the national RBI leader for nine weeks (Fifield), 13 shutouts, three no-hitters (including the first back-to-back no hitters in GCU's D1-era; Hudson, Golden) and the first perfect game in GCU softball history (Darwin).
In his first year as Grand Canyon head coach, he was named the 2022 WAC Coach of the Year, leading the Lopes to not only the No. 5 batting average in the nation (.336), but also a 39-16 regular season WAC championship record, their first WAC Championship Tournament title and their first NCAA Tournament appearance. Hays had five athletes earn a spot on the all-conference first team, and two named NFCA All-West Region as well.
Hays took the reins of a Lopes program with a 216-178 (.548) record in eight Division I seasons and two WAC regular-season titles in 2014 and 2017.
He has built numerous winning programs and built them fast.
Prior to GCU, Hays also had five years as a D-I head coach on his resume, posting winning records in each of his seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech, Inheriting a program that went 15-42 in 2009, Hays had the Red Raiders in their first NCAA tournament in a decade after notching a 23-win improvement and going 38-18 in his inaugural season in 2010. He remains the winningest coach in the history of Texas Tech's softball program, winning 186 games in his five seasons leading the Red Raiders.
Hays spent the previous five seasons in the Division II ranks in successful runs at Colorado Christian (two years, 72-38) and Oklahoma Christian (three years, 99-30).
He also started the softball program at Lubbock Christian University and led the team to a 58-9-2 record and an NAIA National Championship in the program's inaugural season.
While spending most of the last 15 years in college softball, Hays holds a diverse athletic background prior. He spent seven seasons in men's basketball: leading the Abilene Christian program in the late 1990s, two years as an assistant coach at Texas Tech, and two years as the associate head coach at Houston. He was also the athletic director at Abilene Christian.
Hays made the move from men's basketball to softball in 2006 when he was given the opportunity to start a softball program at Lubbock Christian University. After spending the 2006-07 school year recruiting players and raising funds, the Chaparrals debuted to a 58-9-2 record and an NAIA National Championship. He was named NAIA Coach of the Year. After another successful season at Lubbock Christian (53-7-3), he moved across town to take his first D-I softball head coaching position at Texas Tech.
From a family full of coaching success, Hays' father, Larry, and brother, Daren, are both actively coaching college softball. Larry took over for Shanon as Colorado Christian's head coach in 2019 after serving as the head coach of Texas Tech's baseball program for 21 seasons where he coached Shanon from 1988-90. Meanwhile, Daren has been leading the Lubbock Christian softball program since 2011.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
Shanon Hays is a home-run hire. Coach Hays has won at every level with unmatched consistency. He is the ultimate winner. His teams play together with a championship toughness and poise. Coach Hays teaches and coaches through relationships. The Hays family will embrace the university and the campus. Great things are ahead for Grand Canyon softball.
- Chris Beard, Head Coach, Texas Men's Basketball
GCU could not have made a better choice. Shanon has had success in everything he's done. He knows talent and he knows softball, but his fit with GCU's Christian mission will be life changing for those fortunate enough to be under his influence.
- Glenn Moore, Head Coach, Baylor Softball
Shanon Hays is a proven winner at all levels of college softball. He will bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to GCU.
- Kristie Fox, Head Coach, UNLV Softball
I think Shanon's move to GCU is the perfect fit culture wise for him and his family, but it's an even better fit for the university. From a recruiting standpoint and player development, he has always been one of the best in the business. He is a winner — always has been, always will be.
- Nicole Dickson, Head Coach, Stephen F. Austin Softball
Coach Hays is the ultimate winner on and off the field. He has a genuine heart for Christ, his family and the teams he coaches. I've never met anyone that can connect with student-athletes in a way that gets them to achieve their full potential individually and as a team to compete for championships as quickly as he can. GCU will win at the highest level because of his heart and passion to win the right way.
- Grant McCasland, Head Coach, North Texas Men's Basketball