Michelle Gascoigne became the 13th head coach in Colorado State softball history in June of 2026

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.

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.

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.

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.

Gascoigne will be joined in Fort Collins by her husband, Tony, and children Skyler and Brayden.

Name	Title
Nika Walker	Athletic Trainer Softball
Jay Tolpa	Academic Coordinator
Hannah Emerson	Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach

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