Bailey fills final assistant coach role

The final piece of the Grand Canyon softball staff is in place, as former All-ACC utility player Jayme Bailey takes her skill and expertise from Virginia Tech to GCU.

Bailey is coming off a 2024 season in which she was a student assistant coach at Virginia Tech. She helped the Hokies reach their fifth straight NCAA tournament, coincidentally in the Los Angeles Regional with GCU. Bailey and the Hokies won their first game vs. San Diego State and dropped a heartbreaker to host UCLA in Game 2. GCU eventually ended Virginia Tech's season in an elimination game.

The previous four years of Virginia Tech's tournament appearances included Bailey contributing heavily as a player. She started in at least 50 games from 2021 to 2023 and started all 25 games during the 2020 season that was cut short due to COVID. Bailey started a significant number of those games at first base but also played plenty of outfield through her career in Blacksburg.

"Jayme is a great addition to our program," GCU head coach Shanon Hays said. "She had a great career at Virginia Tech playing for and coaching under one of the best coaches in the country in Pete D'Amour. She will be working with our outfielders and assisting with our hitters. She will also be big in our recruiting efforts. I look forward to having her on our staff."

Bailey will provide a different level of experience for hitters and fielders. She ranks sixth all-time in hits, third in RBIs, second in doubles, triples and total bases, and has the third-most runs in Virginia Tech history.

With an outfield that loses Kristin Fifield and Kayla Rodgers, Bailey will be tasked with building and fostering the next group of outfielders at GCU. Graduate center fielder Makaiya Gomez will return after starting 56 games and hitting .343 for the Lopes last season.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Kristin Fifield

Makaiya Gomez

Kayla Rodgers

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