Geoff Hirai was named the third Head Softball Coach at Seattle University since 2000 on July 16, 2015. Hirai took Seattle U to its first-ever Division I NCAA Tournament in 2019, as the Redhawks claimed their first-ever WAC regular season and WAC Tournament crowns. The Redhawks followed by defending the WAC Tournament title and grabbing an NCAA Tournament win in 2021.
As of 6/24/24, Seattle U athletes have collected a WAC Player of the Year, a WAC Freshman of the Year, a WAC Defensive Player of the Year, a WAC Stan Bates award, a CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, 11 CoSIDA/College Sports Communicators Academic All-Districts, 10 NFCA All-Regions (one First Team, five Second Team, four Third Team), 33 All-WACs (17 First Team, 14 Second Team, two Third Team), seven WAC All-Defensives, 75 WAC All-Academics and 14 NFCA All-America Scholar under Hirai.
In 2023, the Redhawks had a historic start to the season, opening 20-9 for the program's best record through 29 games in their Division I history in route to its fifth straight 30+ win season. Seattle U made another WAC Tournament Championship Game appearance as Stefanie Madrigal, Sydney Frankenberger and Lily Garcia all took home WAC All-Tournament awards. The Redhawks finished with the 10th best batting average in NCAA Division I (.324), while Jocelynn De La Cruz set the Redhawks' single-season RBI record with 59. Olivia Viggiano was named to the NFCA Third Team for a second straight year, while Tai Wilson claimed All-WAC First Team honors and De La Cruz Second Team honors. Lily Garcia and Madison Kahwaty finished on the All-Defensive Team for the second straight season with Kahwaty leading the WAC In assists and setting the single-season SU record (183), while Garcia finished with 122 assists and 108 putouts.
In 2022, the Redhawks notched 32 wins, marking four straight seasons with 30+ wins. They opened the WAC season with four straight series victories and concluded the season in the WAC semifinals. Carley Nance would conclude her historic career with the Redhawks first-ever WAC Player of the Year award, while Grace Luderer became the second Redhawk to claim the WAC Freshman of the Year. Seattle U took home an additional eight end of year awards highlighted by Nance and Olivia Viggiano earning NFCA All-Region Second and Third Team honors, respectively. Nance was also named to the All-WAC First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, while Stefanie Madrigal claimed All-WAC Second Team honors and Viggiano, Madison Kahwaty and Lily Garcia were placed on the inaugural WAC All-Defensive Team.
In 2021, the Redhawks won 30 games, including every WAC series. They swept three games in the WAC Tournament, defending their title at Logan Field, as Carley Nance won all three games in the circle and hit three home runs. SU returned to the University of Washington for the NCAA Tournament, where it beat Portland State, 6-5, to claim its second-ever Division NCAA Tournament win. It also took on national powers Michigan and UW at the regional. Nance was joined by Ally Choate and Bailey Thompson on the NFCA All-Region Team.
The 2020 season was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but SU still accomplished plenty. It beat No. 18 Missouri, claiming a win over a nationally-ranked foe for the second straight year. Shi Smith threw the eighth no-hitter in program history, setting a single-game school record with 15 strikeouts, in a 3-0 win over UC Davis. Madison Cathcart also became the school's career leader in home runs with 38.
Seattle U had its best season in program history in 2019, accomplishing many firsts. It won its first-ever WAC regular-season title, first-ever WAC Tournament Championship and won its first Division I NCAA Tournament game. SU set a school record with 40 wins, including its first win over a nationally ranked opponent. In 2019, Seattle U won 40 games, including wins over three NCAA Tournament qualifiers. SU rolled through WAC play, going 15-3 and winning all six series, including three sweeps. It then went 3-0 at the WAC Tournament, winning on a pair of Carley Nance walk-off hits and then a Nance complete-game win in the finals. The Redhawks claimed a 1-0 eight-inning win over Fordham in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Mississippi State twice to close the season at Washington.
The 2018 campaign was a historic one for SU. Hirai took the Redhawks to the brink of their first-ever WAC regular-season title as Seattle U won 33 games, setting a Division I-program record. Madison Cathcart became the first player in program history to be named all-region, as the first baseman earned NFCA All-Region First Team recognition following a fantastic season. Cathcart set eight individual school records, led the WAC in six statistical categories and ranked in the top 12 nationally in six categories. Hirai led SU to wins over Oregon State, an NCAA Tournament qualifier, and Stanford. Seven Redhawks earned All-WAC honors, setting a program record.
In 2017, Hirai got Seattle U within three outs of the program's first WAC Championship. The Redhawks defeated Utah Valley and host New Mexico State to advance to the title game, as Andie Larkins' tremendous pitching efforts led the way. SU and NM State squared off in an epic conference championship, with both teams rallying from multi-run deficits. Home runs by Maddy Kristjanson and Kayla Gonzales gave the Redhawks the lead, but the Aggies escaped with a 15-14 win and then claimed the victory in the winner-take-all contest that followed.
Hirai took Seattle U to 20 wins on the year, including the first perfect game of the season in Division I and a 12-inning victory in the longest game in program history. Alyssa Reuble tossed a perfect game against South Dakota on March 10. She retired all 15 batters in an 8-0 win at the University of Washington. Reuble then pitched all 12 innings in a 7-2 win at Grand Canyon on March 31. She threw 157 pitches, earning a strikeout to end the game in the Redhawks' favor. Paige Bouska wrapped a terrific career in 2017, setting the school's all-time hits record with 235. She was chosen First Team All-WAC. Alyson Matriotti joined Bouska on the conference's first team, hitting .419 in WAC contests. Larkins and Madison Cathcart were named All-WAC Second Team. Larkins, Kristjanson, Cathcart, and Jessica Flanagan were named to the WAC All-Tournament Team.
During the 2016 season, Hirai led the team to two wins in the WAC Tournament for the first time since SU entered the league. Hirai also coached the softball program to surpass the number of wins recorded in the 2014-15 season.
Hirai came to Seattle U after spending four years with the Oregon State softball program, serving as the associate head coach for his last three years. Working mainly with the team’s hitters, he was instrumental in building Oregon State’s offense into one of the best in school history and most consistent in the nation.
In his last season, the Beavers combined for a .298 batting average, the best in school history. Oregon State also scored 300 runs, one shy of a school record, en route to a 26-26 season. The year was highlighted by road wins over No. 16 Arizona State, No. 20 Washington and California, and seven Beavers earned Pac-12 honors for their work during the 2015 season.
Hirai helped Oregon State to back-to-back 30-win seasons and berths into the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013. Thanks to Hirai’s coaching, the Beavers set numerous offensive records over the four years.
Hirai spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, serving as the team’s hitting coach while also aiding in the program’s recruiting efforts. During his time in Charlottesville, Virginia compiled an 83-75 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
Hirai spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, with the Huskies advancing to the NCAA Tournament every year, including a berth in the 2007 Women’s College World Series. He helped four players collect five All-America honors, including two-time honoree Ashley Charters and Danielle Lawrie.
Before coaching at Washington, Hirai worked as owner, instructor and coach at the All-Star Dugout in Irvine, Calif. He also coached an 18-under travel team for four seasons, providing instruction to aspiring collegiate and professional baseball players. Hirai was a scout with Cincinnati Reds from 2001-03 where he was responsible for evaluating players for the Major League Baseball draft.
Hirai was a four-year baseball letterwinner at Hawai’i-Hilo, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1998 and serving as the team’s assistant coach for three seasons while working to obtain his teaching certificate in secondary education.
Hirai and his wife, Tracy, have a son, Gavin, and a daughter, Jordyn.
As of 6/24/24, Seattle U athletes have collected a WAC Player of the Year, a WAC Freshman of the Year, a WAC Defensive Player of the Year, a WAC Stan Bates award, a CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, 11 CoSIDA/College Sports Communicators Academic All-Districts, 10 NFCA All-Regions (one First Team, five Second Team, four Third Team), 33 All-WACs (17 First Team, 14 Second Team, two Third Team), seven WAC All-Defensives, 75 WAC All-Academics and 14 NFCA All-America Scholar under Hirai.
In 2023, the Redhawks had a historic start to the season, opening 20-9 for the program's best record through 29 games in their Division I history in route to its fifth straight 30+ win season. Seattle U made another WAC Tournament Championship Game appearance as Stefanie Madrigal, Sydney Frankenberger and Lily Garcia all took home WAC All-Tournament awards. The Redhawks finished with the 10th best batting average in NCAA Division I (.324), while Jocelynn De La Cruz set the Redhawks' single-season RBI record with 59. Olivia Viggiano was named to the NFCA Third Team for a second straight year, while Tai Wilson claimed All-WAC First Team honors and De La Cruz Second Team honors. Lily Garcia and Madison Kahwaty finished on the All-Defensive Team for the second straight season with Kahwaty leading the WAC In assists and setting the single-season SU record (183), while Garcia finished with 122 assists and 108 putouts.
In 2022, the Redhawks notched 32 wins, marking four straight seasons with 30+ wins. They opened the WAC season with four straight series victories and concluded the season in the WAC semifinals. Carley Nance would conclude her historic career with the Redhawks first-ever WAC Player of the Year award, while Grace Luderer became the second Redhawk to claim the WAC Freshman of the Year. Seattle U took home an additional eight end of year awards highlighted by Nance and Olivia Viggiano earning NFCA All-Region Second and Third Team honors, respectively. Nance was also named to the All-WAC First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-American Third Team, while Stefanie Madrigal claimed All-WAC Second Team honors and Viggiano, Madison Kahwaty and Lily Garcia were placed on the inaugural WAC All-Defensive Team.
In 2021, the Redhawks won 30 games, including every WAC series. They swept three games in the WAC Tournament, defending their title at Logan Field, as Carley Nance won all three games in the circle and hit three home runs. SU returned to the University of Washington for the NCAA Tournament, where it beat Portland State, 6-5, to claim its second-ever Division NCAA Tournament win. It also took on national powers Michigan and UW at the regional. Nance was joined by Ally Choate and Bailey Thompson on the NFCA All-Region Team.
The 2020 season was abbreviated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but SU still accomplished plenty. It beat No. 18 Missouri, claiming a win over a nationally-ranked foe for the second straight year. Shi Smith threw the eighth no-hitter in program history, setting a single-game school record with 15 strikeouts, in a 3-0 win over UC Davis. Madison Cathcart also became the school's career leader in home runs with 38.
Seattle U had its best season in program history in 2019, accomplishing many firsts. It won its first-ever WAC regular-season title, first-ever WAC Tournament Championship and won its first Division I NCAA Tournament game. SU set a school record with 40 wins, including its first win over a nationally ranked opponent. In 2019, Seattle U won 40 games, including wins over three NCAA Tournament qualifiers. SU rolled through WAC play, going 15-3 and winning all six series, including three sweeps. It then went 3-0 at the WAC Tournament, winning on a pair of Carley Nance walk-off hits and then a Nance complete-game win in the finals. The Redhawks claimed a 1-0 eight-inning win over Fordham in the NCAA Tournament, falling to Mississippi State twice to close the season at Washington.
The 2018 campaign was a historic one for SU. Hirai took the Redhawks to the brink of their first-ever WAC regular-season title as Seattle U won 33 games, setting a Division I-program record. Madison Cathcart became the first player in program history to be named all-region, as the first baseman earned NFCA All-Region First Team recognition following a fantastic season. Cathcart set eight individual school records, led the WAC in six statistical categories and ranked in the top 12 nationally in six categories. Hirai led SU to wins over Oregon State, an NCAA Tournament qualifier, and Stanford. Seven Redhawks earned All-WAC honors, setting a program record.
In 2017, Hirai got Seattle U within three outs of the program's first WAC Championship. The Redhawks defeated Utah Valley and host New Mexico State to advance to the title game, as Andie Larkins' tremendous pitching efforts led the way. SU and NM State squared off in an epic conference championship, with both teams rallying from multi-run deficits. Home runs by Maddy Kristjanson and Kayla Gonzales gave the Redhawks the lead, but the Aggies escaped with a 15-14 win and then claimed the victory in the winner-take-all contest that followed.
Hirai took Seattle U to 20 wins on the year, including the first perfect game of the season in Division I and a 12-inning victory in the longest game in program history. Alyssa Reuble tossed a perfect game against South Dakota on March 10. She retired all 15 batters in an 8-0 win at the University of Washington. Reuble then pitched all 12 innings in a 7-2 win at Grand Canyon on March 31. She threw 157 pitches, earning a strikeout to end the game in the Redhawks' favor. Paige Bouska wrapped a terrific career in 2017, setting the school's all-time hits record with 235. She was chosen First Team All-WAC. Alyson Matriotti joined Bouska on the conference's first team, hitting .419 in WAC contests. Larkins and Madison Cathcart were named All-WAC Second Team. Larkins, Kristjanson, Cathcart, and Jessica Flanagan were named to the WAC All-Tournament Team.
During the 2016 season, Hirai led the team to two wins in the WAC Tournament for the first time since SU entered the league. Hirai also coached the softball program to surpass the number of wins recorded in the 2014-15 season.
Hirai came to Seattle U after spending four years with the Oregon State softball program, serving as the associate head coach for his last three years. Working mainly with the team’s hitters, he was instrumental in building Oregon State’s offense into one of the best in school history and most consistent in the nation.
In his last season, the Beavers combined for a .298 batting average, the best in school history. Oregon State also scored 300 runs, one shy of a school record, en route to a 26-26 season. The year was highlighted by road wins over No. 16 Arizona State, No. 20 Washington and California, and seven Beavers earned Pac-12 honors for their work during the 2015 season.
Hirai helped Oregon State to back-to-back 30-win seasons and berths into the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013. Thanks to Hirai’s coaching, the Beavers set numerous offensive records over the four years.
Hirai spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, serving as the team’s hitting coach while also aiding in the program’s recruiting efforts. During his time in Charlottesville, Virginia compiled an 83-75 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.
Hirai spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, with the Huskies advancing to the NCAA Tournament every year, including a berth in the 2007 Women’s College World Series. He helped four players collect five All-America honors, including two-time honoree Ashley Charters and Danielle Lawrie.
Before coaching at Washington, Hirai worked as owner, instructor and coach at the All-Star Dugout in Irvine, Calif. He also coached an 18-under travel team for four seasons, providing instruction to aspiring collegiate and professional baseball players. Hirai was a scout with Cincinnati Reds from 2001-03 where he was responsible for evaluating players for the Major League Baseball draft.
Hirai was a four-year baseball letterwinner at Hawai’i-Hilo, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1998 and serving as the team’s assistant coach for three seasons while working to obtain his teaching certificate in secondary education.
Hirai and his wife, Tracy, have a son, Gavin, and a daughter, Jordyn.
Geoff Hirai Year-by-Year
Year |
Record |
Finish |
Notes |
| 2016 | 19-33 (3-12) | WAC Tournament Semis | |
| 2017 | 20-32 (7-8) | WAC Tournament Finals | |
| 2018 | 33-23 (10-5) | ||
| 2019 | 40-17 (15-3) | NCAA Regionals | |
| 2020 | 9-15 (N/A) | Season Shortened (COVID-19) | |
| 2021 | 30-21 (11-5) | NCAA Regionals | |
| 2022 | 33-24 (15-9) | WAC Tournament Semis | |
| 2023 | 36-24 (14-10) | WAC Tournament Finals | |
| 2024 | 23-32 (14-12) | WAC Tournament Quarterfinals | |
| Record (Career) | 242-217 (.527) |