March 14, 2007
IOWA CITY – University of Iowa Athletic Director Gary Barta announced today that softball coach Gayle Blevins’ contract has been extended thru June 30, 2011.
“Gayle has positioned the Iowa softball program as one of the best in the nation on a yearly basis,” Barta said. “Iowa softball is regarded as one of the premier programs in the country; not only in terms of wins and losses, but in a way that reflects positively on the University of Iowa in all phases of the program. We look forward to many more successful seasons with Gayle as the head of our program.”
Blevins is the all-time winningest coach in Iowa softball history with a record of 813-372-3. She entered the 2007 season as the third winningest coach in NCAA Division I history and her career record stands at 1,113-520-5. She is one of just four coaches to eclipse the 1,000 win mark in Division I softball history.
Blevins has led Iowa to four College World Series appearances and has won five Big Ten regular season titles and two Big Ten Tournament championships. She was named the National Softball Coaches Association National Coach of the Year in 1991, the Mideast Region Coach of the Year in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1997 and was the 1989, 1997 and 2000 Big Ten Coach of the Year. Blevins was also inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1999.
Iowa has finished in the top three of the Big Ten Conference 18 of the 19 seasons under Blevins and has never placed lower than fifth.
“It’s an honor to be the head coach at Iowa,” Blevins said. “This extension means a lot not only to myself, but to the program as well. It’s great to get a vote of confidence from Gary Barta and the University of Iowa. It means a great deal to me as a coach to have the kind of support we have at Iowa.”