Coach Gower announces retirement

Huntington University softball coach Doug Gower has announced his retirement. His announcement comes at the conclusion of the 2020-2021 season after 17 years serving at the helm of the Forester program.

“It’s been an honor to serve my student athletes to help them reach their academic and athletic goals,” said Coach Gower. “Relationships formed here are long lasting, far beyond four years.”

Since taking over the program in 2004, Gower accumulated 371 wins against 359 losses and two ties. During his tenure, the Foresters qualified for postseason play every year. He guided HU to seven winning seasons which included racking up a program-best 37 wins in 2016. Twice he took his team to the NAIA National Tournament.

Under Gower’s tutelage, his players earned 50 All-Conference honors which included 2011 Crossroads Pitcher of the Year Molly Long, 2012 Crossroads Player of the Year Katie Bowers, 2016 Crossroads Pitcher of the Year Emily Puterbaugh and 2017 Newcomer of the Year Lairen Miller. On 35 occasions his athletes were also named NAIA All-America Scholar Athletes.

In 2011 Gower was tabbed the conference Coach of the Year as voted on by his peers.

Before taking over the reins at Huntington, Gower served as an assistant in the program for three years. His coaching resume also includes experience at the high school level. He spent a year as the head baseball coach at Canterbury where he was named the MAC Coach of the Year. He also spent a few years as an assistant at Canterbury and Huntington North.

Gower, a 1982 graduate of Huntington, was a four-year member of the Forester baseball team, where he played second and third base.

“As an alumnus of Huntington College, Doug has given back significantly to his alma mater by leading our softball program with integrity for 17 years,” said HU Athletic Director Lori Culler. “His love for Huntington was a visible part of who he was as a coach and drove his desire to succeed.

“Under Coach Gower’s leadership, the program blossomed into a competitive program within the conference and one that reached the national stage on two occasions. He leaves the program both as the all-time wins leader and as a servant leader who cared for and invested in the student-athletes, the program and the HU community.”

Posted By: Joanne Green, Sports Information Director