(Gilbert, AZ) Park University Gilbert Director of Athletics Angelique Claussen has announced the hiring of Travis “TJ” Stower to be the next head coach of the Buccaneer softball program. If the name Stower sounds familiar, Stower’s father Wayne is the head coach of the Simpson softball program where TJ was an assistant coach for a number of years.
In his time at Simpson (2012-18), Stower not only was an assistant for softball, but also for the women’s basketball team and an adjunct professor in the kinesiology department. On the diamond, Stower was the team’s strength and conditioning coach, as well as assisting with recruiting, hitting and catchers. Over those seven seasons in Redding, the Red Hawks posted a 259-120 (.683) record with two seasons of 40-plus wins and only one season with less than 34 wins. At the plate he mentored his Red Hawk charges to a .320 batting average over seven seasons with a high of .353 in 2017. His 2014 squad hit 53 home runs and posted a .344 batting average en route to the NAIA College World Series.
Stower played professionally in the minor leagues for the Chico Outlaws of the North American League where he played catcher and was one of teams top hitters posting a .286 batting average and .350 on base percentage.
Stower graduated from California State Chico in 2006 with a major in kinesiology and then went on to get his master’s from California University of Pennsylvania in exercise science and health promotion.
Most recently, Stower was the head softball and men’s basketball coach at Florence High School in Florence, Ariz.
“I am excited for the opportunity to build a program,” said Stower. “Park Gilbert has a solid foundation and talented players I am excited to work with and develop. This is an amazing opportunity for me. I can’t wait to get to work.”
Stower lives in Florence, Ariz., with his wife Brittni and three children Briar, Oaklynn and Rhett.
Press Release courtesy of Park University Athletics – Preston English
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