Northwestern University Athletics
Photo by: Dina Kwit
Michelle Gascoigne Joins Northwestern Coaching Staff
8/12/2015 1:41:00 PM | Softball
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern head coach Kate Drohan announced today the addition of 2013 national champion and current member of the NPF's Chicago Bandits Michelle Gascoigne to the Wildcats' coaching staff.
"Michelle is a fierce competitor, an excellent instructor and a passionate teacher," Drohan said. "She grew and developed under a great staff at Oklahoma in her four collegiate seasons and fully embraces the idea of a pitching staff. Her heart and humor make her a perfect fit for the culture of our program."
"Northwestern is a wonderful community for student-athletes," Gascoigne said. "The Drohans have built NU softball into the strong program it is today, and I am excited to join such an experienced staff of great teachers and ambassadors of our game."
A Capital One Academic All-American in 2013, Gascoigne graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in education. She combined with classmate Keilani Ricketts to form the best pitching duo in the nation that season, leading the Sooners to the Women's College World Series championship game where Gascoigne threw a three-hit shutout to clinch the national title for OU.
Over her collegiate career, Gascoigne compiled a 49-7 record with a 1.65 ERA and 507 strikeouts in 378.0 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .189 average. The lefty strikeout artist was one of 10 finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
Following the completion of her collegiate career, Gascoigne has been playing professionally for the Bandits while also serving as a graduate manager for her alma mater. Gascoigne was an All-NPF selection in both 2013 and 2014.
"My past three summers with the Chicago Bandits have led me to fall in love with the Chicagoland area," Gascoigne said. "I am very excited to get to live here year round while having the opportunity to contribute to a great program in the Big Ten Conference.
"I'd like to thank my own coaches and mentors in my time at Oklahoma, Patty Gasso, Melyssa Lombardi and Tripp MacKay as well as the administration that provided me with every opportunity to learn and grow on and off the field over the past six years."
Northwestern is coming off its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in the 14-year Drohan era. Gascoigne replaces former Northwestern All-America student-athlete and pitching coach Courtnay Foster, who recently was named the head coach at Bucknell after serving on NU's staff from 2011-15.
"Michelle is a fierce competitor, an excellent instructor and a passionate teacher," Drohan said. "She grew and developed under a great staff at Oklahoma in her four collegiate seasons and fully embraces the idea of a pitching staff. Her heart and humor make her a perfect fit for the culture of our program."
"Northwestern is a wonderful community for student-athletes," Gascoigne said. "The Drohans have built NU softball into the strong program it is today, and I am excited to join such an experienced staff of great teachers and ambassadors of our game."
A Capital One Academic All-American in 2013, Gascoigne graduated from Oklahoma with a degree in education. She combined with classmate Keilani Ricketts to form the best pitching duo in the nation that season, leading the Sooners to the Women's College World Series championship game where Gascoigne threw a three-hit shutout to clinch the national title for OU.
Over her collegiate career, Gascoigne compiled a 49-7 record with a 1.65 ERA and 507 strikeouts in 378.0 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .189 average. The lefty strikeout artist was one of 10 finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
Following the completion of her collegiate career, Gascoigne has been playing professionally for the Bandits while also serving as a graduate manager for her alma mater. Gascoigne was an All-NPF selection in both 2013 and 2014.
"My past three summers with the Chicago Bandits have led me to fall in love with the Chicagoland area," Gascoigne said. "I am very excited to get to live here year round while having the opportunity to contribute to a great program in the Big Ten Conference.
"I'd like to thank my own coaches and mentors in my time at Oklahoma, Patty Gasso, Melyssa Lombardi and Tripp MacKay as well as the administration that provided me with every opportunity to learn and grow on and off the field over the past six years."
Northwestern is coming off its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in the 14-year Drohan era. Gascoigne replaces former Northwestern All-America student-athlete and pitching coach Courtnay Foster, who recently was named the head coach at Bucknell after serving on NU's staff from 2011-15.
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