Hays signs long-term contract extension

Grand Canyon University and fourth-year softball head coach Shanon Hays have agreed to a long-term contract extension, continuing an impressive tenure that has seen the Lopes develop into a national softball brand and, this season, establish themselves as a top-25 program.

Hays has led GCU to NCAA Tournament appearances in all four of his seasons leading the Lopes. Entering this weekend's Tucson Regional, he holds a nearly .800 winning percentage at GCU (182-48).

"GCU is a wonderful university and place to work," Hays said. "Tina and I love living here, and we love what GCU stands for. I'm glad I get the opportunity to coach here for the foreseeable future. I also want to thank President Brian Mueller and (Vice President of Athletics) Jamie Boggs for their vision and support of our program. Their leadership is a key component of why our program has had such great success. They both have a vision of wanting to not just compete for championships at the conference level but for national championships, and that's the kind of place I want to be a part of.

"It's been a thrill to be a part of what we've been able to accomplish these four years. I'm so thankful for the student-athletes that have made it what it is today. I'm also very thankful for my great staff. They've been a joy to work with and make it fun to go to work every day. And doing that at a private, faith-based university like GCU is very appealing to me. I'm very blessed to be able to coach here."

After a 50-win season and a pair of NCAA tournament victories in 2024, the program has hit even greater heights in 2025 despite an expansive roster turnover that saw GCU return less than 32% of its hits and less than 40% of its innings pitched.

As of Selection Sunday, GCU is ranked 32nd in the NCAA RPI rankings and is a consensus top-25 team in all major national polls. The Lopes lead the nation in winning percentage (46-6, .865) and earned run average (1.74) and are sixth in batting average (.352). The Lopes have won 23 consecutive games, the nation's longest active winning streak, and went 21-2 in WAC play, the nation's No. 11-ranked conference.

"Coach Hays has proven to be one of the best coaches in the country," Boggs said. "He has the vision to see what GCU can be, he has led championship programs year after year, and he builds teams that epitomize our Christian mission. Softball continues to be one of the fastest-rising college sports with consistent rise in viewership, expanded broadcast coverage and increased fan engagement. We are investing heavily in our top-25 softball program and are excited for the future under Coach Hays' leadership."

Each of GCU's NCAA Tournament appearances have brought a new level of success. In three trips to UCLA's Los Angeles Regional, the Lopes have gone from their first NCAA Division I Tournament appearance (2022) to their first win, upsetting the No. 2 national seed Bruins (2023), to their first appearance in the regional championship round (2024).

Hays wasted no time in pointing the program in a winning direction. GCU was 19-30 and 8-9 in WAC play in the season prior to Hays' arrival, finishing with an RPI of No. 183. In his first year on the job, Hays revamped the Lopes roster and went 39-16 and 19-5 in conference, making the largest win jump among 2022 NCAA Tournament qualifiers.

College softball is quickly rising on the national scene. In 2024, ESPN platforms drew their most-watched softball regular season in a decade and averaged 190,000 viewers. The 2024 Women's College World Series Championship Series was the most viewed ever with more than 2 million viewers per game. The full WCWS averaged 1.1 million viewers. ESPN and the NCAA recently signed a new media rights agreement that includes coverage of all rounds of the Division I NCAA Softball Championship (joining basketball, women's volleyball, baseball, women's gymnastics and football as the only full-coverage championships).

Consistent with the national growth of the sport, GCU has seen significant growth in fan interest as well. Average attendance for GCU's home games more than doubled this season while ticket revenue more than tripled.

Hays and the Lopes will make their fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance when they head to the Tucson Regional this weekend, beginning with a 7 p.m. Friday game against No. 21 Ole Miss on ESPNU.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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