Renee Gass returns to Bradley after serving as Director of Operations for the Peoria Sluggers Fastpitch Association. During her time with the Sluggers, she oversaw player recruitment and development, emphasizing skill, work ethic, and character building. Her responsibilities also included scheduling, budget and travel management, skill instruction, and implementing strength and conditioning and nutrition programs.Â
Gass previously spent six seasons with Bradley, helping elevate the Braves into one of the Missouri Valley Conference’s top programs. She played a key role in Bradley’s historic 2009 season, helping guide the Braves to a school-record 12 MVC wins, the program’s first Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship, and its first NCAA Tournament appearance. Bradley won 10 consecutive games during its postseason run, including a victory over nationally ranked DePaul in the NCAA Regional, before falling to eventual Women’s College World Series participant Missouri. Following the season, Gass and the Bradley coaching staff were named the NFCA Mideast Coaching Staff of the Year.
During her first stint with the Braves, Gass helped the program post its first winning season since 1995, develop one of the strongest pitching staffs in school history, and record back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in more than a decade. She also served as interim head coach during four games in 2009, leading Bradley to a 3-1 record.
Prior to Bradley, Gass spent two seasons at Humboldt State, helping the Lumberjacks compile a 113-21 record, capture the Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship, and finish the regular season ranked No. 2 in NCAA Division II. Before joining Humboldt State, she spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Southeast Missouri State.
A four-time All-Ohio Valley Conference catcher at Southeast Missouri State, Gass was a two-time team MVP and helped the Redhawks win back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships. She earned a bachelor’s degree in health management with an emphasis in athletic training from Southeast Missouri State in 2002.
