Doug Gillis named Associate Head Coach for UE Softball

Gillis brings experience from SEC, ACC, and Big 12

 JUNE 14, 2024

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Evansville head softball coach Mat Mundell has announced the hiring of Doug Gills as the Associate Head Coach for the Purple Aces program.

Gillis brings a wealth of experience to the UE program both as a player and coach at the top levels of the sport.

“Today is a tremendous day for Aces softball. I am thrilled to be able to add a coach the caliber of Coach Gillis,” Coach Mundell exclaimed.  “He has a proven track record of working with and developing some of the best pitchers in the game. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge not only from what he has done as a coach but also his own playing career.”

In his time as a college coach, Gillis has developed pitchers that have won their respective conference Pitcher of the Year awards on seven occasions.  His coaching has led to a pair of Pitcher of the Year awards in the Big 12, one in the SEC, three in a row in the ACC and one in the Atlantic Sun.  Under his tutelage, four of his pitchers have been named 1^st Team All-Americans while four were named to the USA National Team.

“I’m excited to join Coach Mundell’s softball program and be a part of University of Evansville athletics,” Gillis said. “I look forward to coaching in the MVC and competing for championships.”

In 2024, Gillis was the Director of Pitching Development at Liberty University.  The Flames were both the Conference USA regular season and tournament champions.  Liberty opened the NCAA Championship with wins over #25 Charlotte and #11 Georgia.

From 2019-2023, Gillis was the Head Pitching and Assistant Coach at Virginia Tech.  His work with the Hokie pitching staff resulted in three ACC Pitcher of the Year awards, two 1^st Team All-American honors, and a staff that led the nation in strikeouts in 2022.  As a team, Virginia Tech won the ACC Championship in 2019 and 2022 while advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals in 2021 and 2022.

Prior to joining the Hokies staff, Gillis was the Head Pitching and Assistant Coach at Kennesaw State where he oversaw the development of the 2018 Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year.  That season saw the Owls win the conference championship on the way to the first NCAA Regional appearance in program history.  His pitching staff led the ASUN in strikeouts, having 70 more than any other squad.

From 2009-2016, he was on the staff at the University of Missouri as they transitioned from the Big 12 to the SEC.  Gillis was the Director of Pitching from 2009-14 and was elevated to Head Pitching Coach from 2015-16.  Over the course of his first six seasons with the Tigers, three of his pitchers garnered 1^st Team All-American accolades.  Mizzou made three appearances in the Women’s College World Series, six trips to the NCAA Super Regionals and won six NCAA Regional Championships.

He coached the 2011 Big 12 Pitcher of the Year, 2013 SEC Pitcher of the Year, and the 2014 SEC Freshman Pitcher of the Year.  Following his promotion to Head Pitching Coach, the Tigers won their respective NCAA Regional Championship in both seasons and advanced to the Super Regionals.  He worked with an All-SEC pitcher and another who made the USA National Team.

In a playing career that spanned over three decades, Gillis was a 6-time member of Team USA while earning six USA Softball Major Level All-American awards.  His teams won the gold medal at the 2002 Pan-American Championships and the 1999 U.S. Olympic Festival.  Gillis is a 2-time USA Softball Major Level National Champion.

AVON, Ohio – The Evansville Otters had an early lead before the bats fell quiet against the Lake Erie Crushers on Friday night, dropping the series opener 7-3 at Crushers Stadium.

The Otters (21-34) jumped ahead in the first inning, plating two runs to take an early lead. Dakota Phillips singled to left-center driving in one. On the play, the ball was thrown home, and Phillips moved to second. The Crushers (35-20) defense then threw the ball into center field, and another man came in to score.

Lake Erie answered with a run in the home first, before Evansville added more in the second.

Delvin Zinn singled with two outs to reach base. One batter later, Giovanni DiGiacomo singled and on a diving attempt from the Crushers’ right fielder, Zinn went from first to home as the ball kicked over to center field. That was the last run of the game for Evansville.

The turning point tonight came in the fifth frame. Lake Erie led off the inning with six base hits, five of which scored to make it a 6-3 game. They added another in the sixth to finalize the scoring.

The Crushers pitching staff recorded 19 outs in a row to finish the game. Evansville was out-hit 9-5 in the game.

Terance Marin (0-3) took the loss after giving up all seven runs, four earned, on nine hits. The righty struck out three and walked two. Pedro Echemendia (2-1) tossed in seven innings as the Lake Erie starter and took home the win.

The Otters attempt to bounce back tomorrow with a 6:05 p.m. CT first pitch to even the series against the Crushers. Coverage is available on the Otters Digital Network and FloBaseball.