Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State Hires Michelle Gascoigne as Softball Coach
6/8/2026 8:25:00 AM | Softball
National champion pitcher to become 13th head coach in CSU softball history
FORT COLLINS, Colo.  – National champion, coach, now head coach. Michelle Gascoigne was announced as the 13th head softball coach in Colorado State history on Monday by Director of Athletics John Weber. The 2013 Women's College World Series national champion comes to CSU after being the pitching coach at Northwestern for the past 11 seasons.
"I am excited to welcome Michelle, her husband Tony and children Skyler and Brayden to Fort Collins. Michelle has been a winner on and off the diamond every step of her career, first as a student-athlete at Oklahoma and more recently during her time on staff at Northwestern," Weber said. "Originally from California, she has great West Coast ties and looks for the complete student-athlete. Michelle is very active in the softball community as a multi-time presenter at the NFCA coaching convention. I am excited for this new era of CSU softball as Michelle leads us into the Pac-12."
Gascoigne spent 11 years in Evanston helping Northwestern go 360-195-1 overall, including 180-70 in Big Ten play. The Wildcats made the NCAA regionals eight times over the 11-year span, advancing to the super regionals three times and the Women's College World Series (WCWS) once, in 2022. It was the program's sixth-ever appearance in the WCWS.
The 2022 team featured Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and first-team NFCA All-American Danielle Williams. Williams battery mate, Jordyn Rudd, was named All-Big Ten catcher and recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove and Johnny Bench award.
"I am incredibly honored to be named the head softball coach at Colorado State University. I am excited to lead this program, invest in our student-athletes, and compete for Pac-12 championships," Gascoigne said. "I would like to thank John and Christina for this opportunity and Kate and Caryl Drohan and everyone at Northwestern who have had a tremendous impact on my career. My family and I can't wait to join the community in Ft. Collins and support all of our Rams teams. Go Rams!"
Gascoigne had a pitcher on the All-Big Ten team in 10 of her 11 seasons. That included two Big Ten Pitcher of the Year award winners from 2022-24. At Northwestern, Gascoigne helped the Wildcats earn 10 NFCA All-Region selections, seven of them different pitchers under her tutelage. Just this past season, Marina Mason earned consensus freshman All-America honors.
The individual's success led to team success during her time in Evanston. On top of the NCAA Tournament success, Northwestern earned a three-peat of the Big Ten regular season title from 2002-24. It was only the second time in program history that the Wildcats had a three-peat. Northwestern finished in the top four of the Big Ten nine of the 11 seasons she was there.
Before becoming a coach, Gascoigne was a standout pitcher at Oklahoma. She was a Capital One Academic All-American in 2013, helping lead the Sooners to the national championship. Gascoigne combined with teammate Keilani Ricketts to form the best pitching duo in the nation that season, finishing with an NCAA-best team ERA. Gascoigne threw a three-hit shutout to secure the national title for OU.
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Over her collegiate career, Gascoigne went 49-7 in the circle with a 1.65 ERA and 507 strikeouts in 378.0 innings pitched. She held opponents to a .189 average. Gascoigne was one of 10 finalists for the 2013 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award.
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Following the completion of her collegiate career, Gascoigne began playing professionally for the National Pro Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits. Gascoigne was an All-NPF selection in both 2013 and 2014 and helped pitch the Bandits to the National Pro Fastpitch Cowles Cup Championship in 2015.
Gascoigne served as a graduate manager for her alma mater, Oklahoma, from 2014-15.
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Gascoigne will be joined in Fort Collins by her husband, Tony, and children Skyler and Brayden.
