Abilene Christian University (ACU) has officially appointed Larry Hays as the head coach of its softball program, tapping a figure whose name has become synonymous with winning in college baseball and softball.
Hays arrives after a 38‑year career that spans multiple institutions, during which he amassed a dual‑sport record of 1,902 wins against just 951 losses and one tie, a testament to his sustained excellence across three decades of competition.
His most recent stop was at Colorado Christian University, where he guided the team to three 50‑plus win seasons and secured five appearances in the NCAA Softball Tournament, underscoring his ability to translate modest programs into national contenders.
Prior to that, Hays spent more than two decades at Texas Tech, where he led the baseball squad from 1987 to 2008, capturing the program’s first Southwest Conference and Big 12 titles and becoming the fourth coach in college baseball history to surpass 1,500 career victories.
At Lubbock Christian University, he earlier steered the baseball team to the 1983 NAIA national championship and earned induction into both the NAIA Baseball Hall of Fame and the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame, honors that reflect his impact on the sport’s developmental landscape.
Beyond the win column, Hays is celebrated for his commitment to Christian service and leadership, a philosophy that aligns with ACU’s mission and has shaped the careers of numerous student‑athletes who credit him with molding both their athletic and personal growth.
The hiring also resonates within the Hays family; his son, Shannon Hays, previously served as ACU’s men’s basketball coach and athletic director, adding a layer of continuity that the university hopes will foster deeper integration between its basketball and softball programs.
A Legacy Defined by Excellence
Observers expect Hays to leverage his proven ability to build winning cultures and to further elevate ACU’s softball recruiting footprint, positioning the program as a competitive force in the upcoming season and beyond.