Brenau University Women's Softball

Thomass transformational leadership, the Brenau team has become a perennially contender for top national rankings, finishing no. 4 in the nation in 2012 and no. 3 in 2013 preseason rankings. The Golden Tigers first broke into the NAIA Division I national rankings in 2006, 2007, and 2008 the only all-womens colleges ranked. The team finished the 2009 season as SSAC regular-season champs and No. 11 in the national after qualifying for the national tournament. In  the 2012 NAIA National Championship Tournament Thomas and the Tigers made it to the Final Four, finishing in third place. Brenau began the 2013 season with the teams  highest preseason national ranking in school history and also for the first time received two of the 18 first place votes. While at Brenau, Thomas has amassed a 341-184-1 record while at Brenau. During his tenure, Thomas has coached 45 SSAC All-Conference team selections, 65 SSAC All-Academic team selections, 22 SSAC All-Conference freshman team selections, four SSAC Gold Glove winners, two SSAC Players of the Year (2009, 2011), one Divisional Player of the Year (2014), three Divisional Pitchers of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014), three SSAC Freshman of the Year (2009, 2010, 2011), one SSAC Divisional Freshman of the Year (2014), two NAIA All-Region Selections, two NFCA All-Americans, five NAIA All-Americans and two National Tournament All-Tournament Team Selections (2012).   In 2009, Thomas was named SSAC Coach of the Year. In 2013 he earned his 300th career victory against Emmanuel College. After his 200th victory, he was inducted into the NFCA Easton Victory Club for 200+ wins. He has also been a finalist for NAIA National Coach of the Year in both 2009 and 2012. Thomas has had nine 30+ win seasons in a row (2006-2014) and three 40+ win seasons (2009, 2011, 2012). His team has been in the NAIA Top 25 every week for the past six years. Thomas coached high school softball for 10 years at two different schools. His teams had combined overall records of 209 wins and 82 losses (.718 winning percentage). During that time, his teams won five  region championships and finished twice as region runners up.; they made a state final four  appearance, three State Final appearances and seven state Sweet Sixteen appearances. He set records for wins at both schools. He was voted Georgia Athletics Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 1999, 2002 and 2004, coached the North-South All-Star Game in 2000 and was also voted the North Georgia All Area Coach of the Year in 1999, 2002 and 2004.      Coach Gary Hatfield begins his 10th season as assistant coach of the Golden Tigers softball team.  A native of Gainesville, Ga., Hatfield has two daughters and one granddaughter.