GREENVILLE, Pa. (Aug. 20) -- Thiel College announced today that Head Softball Coach Paul Gray accepted the head coaching position at Division I Niagara University.

"We cannot thank Coach Gray for his and his staffs work to get Thiel Softball to the PAC Championship Tournament this past spring," Isaac Collins, Director of Athletics, said. "This is an exciting opportunity to identify a leader who will build upon the proud history of Thiel Softball and its recent success. Our process is designed to be thorough and collaborative, ensuring that our student-athletes and Thiel community voices are included in selecting the best candidate for this important role."

While we wish him well in this next chapter of his coaching career, the focus remains on the future of and the rise of Thiel Softball. The Tomcats return a highly competitive core of student-athletes, supported by a strong recruiting class. With increased momentum and a shared vision among players, staff and the department, Thiel is poised to take the next step forward.

The Tomcats, who were picked 10th in the PAC Preseason Coaches Poll last season, made a deep run in the PAC Championship Tournament. After qualifying on the final day of the regular season as the No. 6 seed, they battled their way through as one of the last four teams standing before falling to Geneva, whom they beat in the tournament opener, in the consolation bracket semifinal.

Thiel returns All-PAC players Kayley Risser (Reynoldsville, Pa./Dubois Central Catholic) and Mackenzie Herman (Greenville, Pa./Reynolds) as well as 7-of-9 regulars from the starting lineup in 2026.

A national search is underway for the next leader of the Thiel Softball program.