Gordon first served as an assistant coach at Seattle U in the 2008 season and returned to the Redhawks at the start of the 2014 season.
Between stints with the Redhawks, Gordon served as a coaching assistant at Harvard from 2008-13 where she helped the Crimson claim two Ivy League Championships and trips to NCAA Regionals and three Ivy North Division titles. She helped Harvard post a 17-3 mark in Ivy League play in 2010 as well as earning the Ivy North Division title and a berth in the Ivy League Championship series against Cornell. In 2011, she was a key part of the Harvard team that broke the school record for wins in a season (36) and Ivy League wins in a season (18).
Gordon was a four-year letterwinner at the University of the Pacific from 2002-05, playing catcher her first two years and making a successful move to the outfield for her junior and senior seasons. In her senior year, she was a second team All-Big West selection as well as a third team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America pick.
“Coach Gordon and I go back 10 years and we have the same coaching philosophies,” said Hirai. “She is a technician in whatever she teaches and she will be in charge of the outfielders and slappers. She is a big asset to me and this program.”
As a coach, Dawson has served as a pitching instructor for nine years and has helped coach ASA summer ball teams in Southwest Washington and Miami, Fla. She most recently served as assistant coach at Lower Columbia College (Jan-May 2015), helping the team return to the NWAAC tournament after missing it in 2014. She coached the Red Devils' starting pitcher to a First Team All-League selection and a 2.60 ERA.
She graduated with a Bachelor's of Arts & Science in 2014 from Florida International University. During her career at FIU, she was awarded "most decorated pitcher" and, during her sophomore season, became one of just two pitchers in FIU history to post over 200 strikeouts in a single season. During the same season, she earned over 20 wins, marking the first time in 10 years an FIU pitcher had accomplished the feat. She finished her career with 465 career strikeouts, third in the FIU history book. In the summer of 2012, Dawson played for the California Storm during the summer before returning to Miami for her junior year.
Dawson graduated from Union High School in Vancouver, Wash. in 2010 where she was a four time MVP, two-time Regional Player of the Year, and four-time All-State First Team honoree. In 2010, she set a new Washington State strikeout record with 1,044 career strikeouts.
Of Dawson, Hirai says, “Coach Dawson is young in age but not in her coaching style. She has commanded this pitching staff with presence and respect. She loves what she does and will be great for this program for years to come.”
The Redhawks’ spring 2016 schedule is being finalized and will be released soon on GoSeattleU.com.