Wayne State University Athletics

UPDATE 6-16-2021

• Concluded his 40th and final season as head coach of WSU during 2020-21 the academic year (1340-793-8)
• 2008 Inductee into NFCA Hall of Fame
• All-time NCAA Division II winningest softball coach
• Coached 41 All-Americans on the field (5 Converse, 25 NFCA and 11 Daktronics/D2CCA)
• Coached 12 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans
• Reached NCAA Division II College World Series (Elite Eight) on three occasions (2003, 2010 and 2014)
• 10-Time GLIAC Coach of the Year
• 21 GLIAC Championships (5 Regular-Season, 6 Tournament, plus another 10 Regular-Season/Tournament Championships combined [1983-1996])
• Coached 8 GLIAC Players of the Year (Tish Miller in 1986 and 1987, Molly Yetman in 2007, Alison Allen in 2010, Nikki Fulton in 2012, Lyndsay Butler in 2016 and 2017, and Hannah McClounie in 2019)
• Guided 7 GLIAC Freshman of Year selections
• Led 5 GLIAC Pitchers of the Year (Molly Yetman in 2008, Casey Hanes in 2009 and 2010, and Lyndsay Butler in 2014 and 2015)
• Coached 190 GLIAC All-Academic recipients (2002-21)

Gary Bryce concluded his 40th and final season as head coach of the Wayne State softball program in the spring of 2021.

The 40 years coaching is tied for second in NCAA softball history (all three Divisions combined).  American International College's Judy Groff (1969-2011) is the all-time leader at 43 years.  Two retired coaches - Central Michigan's Margo Jonker (1980-2019) and Hallie Cohen (1980-2019), who coached at both FDU-Fordham and William Paterson - both finished with 40 years.  Joining Bryce at 40 years in 2021 were Claudia Stabile of Pace and Widener's Fred Dohrmann.

Bryce completed his coaching tenure sixth in NCAA softball history (all three Divisions combined) with 1,340 victories, while his 2,141 games coached ranks second behind Michigan's Carol Hutchins (2,207).  Bryce was just ahead of Arizona's Mike Candrea, who also retired after the 2021 season, with 2,112 games coached.

Bryce surpassed Bloomsburg's Jan Hutchinson (1978-2010), who garnered 1,215 wins in her 33 seasons, as the all-time NCAA Division II winningest softball coach with WSU's win over Lincoln on March 3, 2017.

On April 23, 2016, Bryce became the 10th coach in NCAA softball history to reach the 1,200 win plateau as the Warriors swept Ashland.  WSU rallied from an 8-0 deficit to win the opener 12-8, then run-ruled the Eagles, 9-1, in the nightcap for the historic victory

Previously, Bryce became just the 20th softball coach in NCAA history with 1,000 wins when the Warriors won at Findlay on April 20, 2011.  He then became the 17th softball coach in NCAA history with 1,100 wins when WSU won twice at Ashland on April 19, 2014.  When he reached 900 collegiate career softball victories on March 29, 2009, Bryce became the 21st coach in any division ever to reach that mark in NCAA softball history.

The top five all-time consists of Arizona's Mike Candrea (1,674), Michigan's Carol Hutchins (1,669), Fresno State's Margie Wright (1,457), Tennessee's Ralph Weekly (1,450) and California's Diane Ninemire (1,355).

Immediately behind Bryce on the NCAA All-Time wins list to round out the top 15 are Oklahoma's Patty Gasso (1,336), DePaul's Eugene Lenti (1,327), North Carolina's Donna Papa (1,319), Minnesota State's Lori Meyer (1,286), LSU's Yvette Girouard (1,285), Texas A&M's Jo Evans (1,269), Central Michigan's Margo Jonker (1,268), Florida Southern's Chris Bellotto (1,252), and Iowa's Gayle Blevins (1,245).

Bryce coached 41 All-Americans on the field (5 Converse, 25 NFCA and 11 Daktronics/D2CCA) and 10 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans in his career, including current assistant coach Pat Kent.  His Warrior teams have reached the NCAA Division II College World Series (Elite Eight) on three occasions in 2003, 2010 and 2014.  Bryce's squads won five consecutive GLIAC Tournament titles (2012-16) compiling an 22-2 record over those five tournaments.  In addition, he led WSU to three NCAA Midwest Super Regional appearances in a six-year span (2014-19).

A 2008 inductee into the NFCA Hall of Fame, Bryce led WSU to 12 NCAA tournament appearances in the last 15 seasons (2006-19, 2021) that a post-season tournament was held.  He led the Warriors to the second-most single-season wins (50) in school history in 2016, and another 40 victories in 2017.

His 2003 squad became the first in school history to advance to the College World Series after winning the NCAA Great Lakes Regional in Allendale, while his 2010 team shattered the previous wins record (43 in 1993) by winning 52 games including the NCAA Midwest Regional and Super Regional titles to advance to the College World Series.

During his tenure, he built one of the most successful collegiate programs among Michigan universities and colleges, compiling an 1340-793-8 (.628) overall record in 40 seasons.  Under Bryce's guidance, Wayne State's softball program was nationally ranked 28 times in his 40 seasons.  WSU made 23 appearances (1983-84-86-88-90-92-93-94-96-02-03-06-07-08-09-10-12-13-14-15-16-17-19) in the NCAA Division II National Championship tournament since 1982, sixth most in NCAA Division II.  The 2009 senior class was the first in school history to make four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, while the class of 2010 became the first with three 40-plus win seasons.  Meanwhile, the class of 2015 also made four NCAA Tournament appearances and became the first WSU class to win four straight GLIAC Tournament titles.

In 2016, the Warriors won their 18th GLIAC title, which was the 17th during Bryce's tenure. His other conference championships came in 2015, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2002, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1985 and 1983.  In addition, Bryce has been named GLIAC "Coach of the Year" 10 times (2015, 2007, 2006, 2002, 1996, 1992, 1990, 1988, 1985 and 1983).

After his 1993 squad won a then school record 43 games, he became the first GLIAC coach ever to be named the Division II Central Region "Coach of the Year" by the National Softball Coaches Association.  Only five of his teams have ever finished at or below .500, and all have won at least 21 games in a season prior to 2020 (10-5 before season was cancelled due to COVID-19).

When Bryce came to WSU in the early 80's, he brought with him a long and distinguished scholastic coaching career in girls' softball and basketball, as well as in boys' wrestling and baseball on the prep level.

Starting at Clawson public schools, then with Royal Oak public schools, Bryce has held several head and assistant coaching positions in several sports.  At Royal Oak Dondero High School, where he taught social studies until December 1984, Bryce coached the Oaks' varsity softball squad for five seasons, compiling a 130-36 (.783) record.  He guided the Oaks to four Metro Suburban Association crowns, three state district titles, and one state regional championship, as well as the 1979 Michigan Class A State Championship.

Bryce holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and social studies from the University of Michigan.  He also earned a Master's degree and a UM Certificate in Industrial Relations from Michigan.  As a Michigan undergraduate student, Bryce participated in football and baseball, both at the intercollegiate and intramural levels.

Besides teaching and coaching for Royal Oak and Clawson public schools, Bryce has worked in the Ann Arbor public school system and at St. Williams in Walled Lake.  He held a teaching fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh, where he taught physical education courses in handicapped and physical skills. He also worked as a trainer with several of Pittsburgh's intercollegiate teams.

Bryce was also an instructor of physical education in Wayne State's Division of Health and Physical Education.  From 1984-92, Bryce was the Tartars' head women's basketball coach, and he served as WSU's director for athletic development from 1992-99.  Bryce resides in Sterling Heights.

*-Conference title determined by tournament and regular-season results.
#-NCAA College World Series participant.
%-NCAA Regional participant.
&-School Record for Wins.
@-GLIAC Tournament Champions.
$-GLIAC Regular-Season Champions.
+-GLIAC Awarded forfeit win for Findlay failing to return to complete suspended game; NCAA recognized game as a tie since 8 innings were played.