Gwen Lewis always put this thought into her University of Evansville softball players early in their careers: 'How do you want to be remembered?'
Lewis announced her retirement from coaching today after 18 seasons as the Purple Aces' head softball coach, and she is sure to be remembered as one of the most dynamic people in the history of UE athletics. Lewis led the 2000 softball team to its first Missouri Valley Conference championship, led the 2002 team to the NCAA Tournament, and compiled a record of 506-455-1. The only coaches in University of Evansville history to win more games were Hall of Fame basketball coach Arad McCutchan and baseball coach Jim Brownlee. Lewis also made sure her players succeeded off the field. Twenty-seven of her players made the Missouri Valley Conference Scholar-Athlete Team, and her 2008 squad finished with the seventh highest team grade point in the nation, according to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
"The last 18 years have been an incredible journey for me," Lewis said today. "I am so grateful and honored to have worked at such a fine institution as the University of Evansville. I have made many friends along the way and have been blessed to work with so many fine colleagues. I will miss working with young people on a daily basis; I definitely think that helps keep you young at heart. As for competition, I truly have felt the 'thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat.'
"When it was all said and done, I wouldn't have changed a thing. Someone wise once said, 'When you lose, don't lose the lesson,' and I am going to take everything I learned from this career and apply it to my next one.
"I would be extremely remiss if I didn't recognize and thank Peg Boardman for her outstanding contributions to our program. If I didn't have Peg coaching with me every day, I couldn't have stayed in this profession this long. In my mind we were a partnership every day on the field, and I wish assistant coaches throughout the ranks got the credit they deserve because they are the most important ingredient to a program's success. I also want to thank two volunteer assistants who have helped our program tremendously–-Allen Woodruff, who was with our program for five years before he became the head coach at Evansville Reitz High School, and Dirk Hartman, our current coach. I am sure I learned more from them than they learned from me. I look forward to watching the success of this program and helping the University in any way I can throughout the years to come."
Added UE Director of Athletics John Stanley, "Gwen Lewis has been a great ambassador for the University of Evansville and its athletic programs over many years. The fact that she won 500 games over the course of her career as a coach speaks to her dedication and determination as a coach and a leader. In my two years as Athletics Director, I have very much enjoyed getting to know Gwen. She has a great sense of humor and great passion for our University. Gwen has established her place in Aces history with her success on a personal and professional level."
Lewis became UE's ninth softball coach in 1991 at age 28, and she has been the dean of the Aces’ coaching staff since 2004. The winningest coach in UE softball history, Lewis became the first to reach the 400-win plateau, in 2005 with a 1-0 win over Ole Miss on February 26. Her 500th win came in dramatic fashion last month when senior Kristen Shirk hit a walk-off home run in the ninth inning on April 1 to beat Indiana University, 4-3. In her 18 seasons, Lewis compiled 10 winning seasons, two 40-win seasons and eight 30-win seasons, including six consecutive from 1997-2002.
Under her direction, UE won its first regular season MVC championship in 2000, an MVC Tournament championship in 2002, and made Evansville's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2002 at Fresno, Cal. Lewis's 1999 team set the school record for wins in a season with 46, still the third most in MVC history. Lewis's teams collected some big wins over some big names. In 2005, the Purple Aces defeated national power Texas 2-0 at Texas. Texas was ranked fourth nationally at the time, and is the highest ranked team beaten by a UE women's team.
The winning tradition Lewis established has translated into 34 all-MVC players. UE is the only softball program in the MVC to sweep Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher awards in the same year. In 2000, Jessica Huff and teammate Maggie Ross were honored as most valuable player and most valuable pitcher respectively. Huff was inducted into the UE Athletics Hall of Fame in 2008.
Lewis helped lead the effort to move the Aces back on campus with the opening of Cooper Stadium in 2002. One year later, the Aces hosted the State Farm MVC Tournament at 'The Coop,' regarded as one of the best softball facilities in the Midwest.
Lewis began coaching after an impressive career at Indiana State University. She played for the Sycamores from 1981-1985, and her 131 career hits as a Sycamore and 52 hits as a senior are still among the top 10 all-time at Indiana State. Lewis started the softball program at Attica High School, serving as a teacher and coach at AHS for two years. Following her stint at AHS, Lewis coached softball, basketball and taught physical education at Union High School in Dugger, Indiana. Lewis returned to Indiana State as an assistant coach before accepting the Evansville job following the 1991 season.
"We emphasize to our players the importance of character and how they conduct themselves both on and off the field," Lewis was quoted as saying in the 2009 UE softball media guide. "We tell them, 'Ten years from now, no one will remember the scores of the games, how many hits you had or balls you caught. However, your teammates will remember what kind of person you were and how you treated others.' The number one rule in our program is the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated. Therefore, we remind them early on in their career, 'How do you want to be remembered?'"
Gwen Lewis's Year-by-Year Record At UE
1992...19-34
1993...12-36
1994...8-31
1995...34-18
1996...22-28
1997...30-24...Lewis reaches 100 wins
1998...34-23
1999...46-20...school record for wins...Lewis reaches 200 wins
2000...37-21-1...MVC regular season champions
2001...39-17
2002...34-27...NCAA Tournament...Lewis reaches 300 wins
2003...29-23
2004...40-20
2005...16-34...Lewis reaches 400 wins
2006...24-26
2007...33-20
2008...25-21
2009...14-34...Lewis reaches 500 wins
Record At UE: 506-455-1 (18 years)
