Meet East Carolina softball head coach Shane Winkler
GREENVILLE, N.C. — As the season is coming to an end for the East Carolina softball team, led by Head Coach Shane Winkler, they hope to end on a high note. Winkler joined the program in May 2021, becoming the first male head coach and fifth coach overall.
Coach Winkler had a successful three-year stint as head coach at George Washington University before joining East Carolina University. The GW Colonials won both the regular season and tournament titles in 2021, advancing to the NCAA Championship for the first time and made their second overall postseason appearance.
Winkler was the first Atlantic 10 Coach-of-the-Year in George Washington’s softball program history, leading his team to a 23-1 conference record along with a “sweep of championship banners” during his season at the university.
Before leading the Colonials, Winkler spent a decade as head coach at Charleston Southern University. He guided the team to their first NCAA tournament in 2014, making his mark at Charleston Southern with three 30-win seasons and two Big South Championship final appearances.
Coach Winkler also served three seasons as an assistant coach at Marshall University, leading the outfielders and offense. The Marshall ladies broke the program’s home run record twice while under Winkler’s watch, ending his three seasons with a 91-78 combined record.
In 2005 Winkler began his collegiate coaching career as the co-head coach at Danville Area Community College. Familiar with field as a player himself, Winkler started coaching softball while in college during a summer program in his hometown of Kentland, Indiana.
The outfielder played at Illinois Central College, Purdue and Butler. He earned his associate’s degree in general education from Illinois Central in 2002, later earning a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies in 2004 from Butler. Winkler went on to play professionally with Florence Freedom, Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League and Amarillo Dillas of United Baseball League.
As ECU’s softball head coach, Winkler complied an overall record of 20-36 last year with a 2-16 mark in the American Athletic Conference. Winkler retained 16 players from the 2022 roster, 12 position players, including outfielder Taudrea Sinnie who was named All-ACC Second Team. Four pirate pitchers returned this season, Madisyn Davis who lead the team with a 3.45 ERA and All-ACC Rookie team member Jordan Hatch included.
Local DH Conley graduate Anna Sawyer joined the program this year after being named the 2021 NC District 13A Player of the Year and Eastern Carolina 3A/4A Player of the Year. Sawyer hit her first collegiate homerun mid-season, leading the defeat against the Tarheels at Anderson Stadium in Chapel Hill.
The East Carolina Pirates have three remaining home games this season at the Max R. Joyner Family Stadium against Tulsa University; May 5 @5pm, May 6 @2pm and May 7 @12pm. The American Athletic Conference Championship in Tampa, FL is scheduled May 11-13, 2023. Let’s cheer on the ladies and show our Pirate Pride!
EXPERIENCE
- 2022-current East Carolina University-Head Coach
- 2021-2019 George Washington University-Head Coach
- 2018-2009 Charleston Southern University-Head Coach
- 2009 Chicago Bandits-Assistant Coach
- 2008-2006 Marshall University-Assistant Coach
- 2007 Akron Racers-Assistant Coach
- 2006-2005 Danville Area Community College-Co-Head Coach
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