Former Wingate head coach Lani Shaffer Ries has joined the coaching staff at Gardner-Webb as an assistant coach.
Ries leaves Wingate, a Division II program, after seven seasons as the Bulldogs’ head coach. She collected more than 200 victories, with a 210-148-1 overall record and a .585 winning percentage in the South Atlantic Conference. Ries led the Bulldogs to a trio of NCAA tournament appearances, including a postseason berth in the 2019 season.
Prior to taking the helm at Wingate, Ries spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Bowling Green and began her coaching career at Gardner-Webb from 2005-07. A program alum, Ries ranks in the top ten in program history in eight different statistical categories and holds the program’s single-season record for games played and started. Ries also spent two seasons playing professional softball after her collegiate playing career.
In addition to Ries, who will hold the title of Associate Head Coach at Gardner-Webb, the Runnin’ Bulldogs rounded out their coaching staff with Kelly Roberts, who served as an assistant to Ries at Wingate in 2019 and will be the GWU pitching coach.
Gardner-Webb posted a 30-24 overall record during the 2019 season, with a 9-15 showing in Big South conference matchups. The Runnin’ Bulldogs posted a program batting average of .297 and amassed a 3.93 cumulative ERA between the team’s pitching staff.
