Although the Lady Buff Softball team began play in the spring of 2006, the former program was short-lived from 1979 to 1984. However Renee Luers-Gillispie certainly had an impact for WT during her two years with the Lady Buffs, following her transfer from Kirkwood (Iowa) Community College.
During her two years under head coach Brenda Marshall, Luers-Gillispie set school records for most wins, saves, complete games, innings pitched, and strike outs. She hurled a perfect game against North Texas State University in 1982 - the first in school history.
She married Dumas, Texas, native and WT graduate Mark Gillispie in July 1982 and received her Bachelor's degree in recreation administration from WT in May 1984. She even worked under current Recreation Sports Director Bill Craddock after graduation.
Luers-Gillispie's coaching career began in 1991 at Joliet (Ill.) Junior College, inheriting a 2-29 team and turning it around in two years to a 47-28 record and a National Junior College Athletic Association regional runner-up in 1992 with a 32-12 record.
Then it was onto Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., in 1993, taking over a 12-25 team and in three short years building it to an 86-53 mark.
In 1996 she moved to Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, where, despite a 4-44 record the first year, her final three years were 115-79. The Red Raiders were ranked 17th nationally in 1998 and No. 24 the following year with runner-up finish in the NCAA regional tournament.
The University of Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., summoned her services next to start up a new softball program in 2000 and 2001. UCF began play in 2002 and her four-year record is 179-100-1. Her Golden Knights made the NCAA regional tournament this season, losing to the University of South Florida, 5-4, on May 21 at Gainesville, Fla.
Luers-Gillispie is a highly-sought after international coach and speaker and a softball camp and clinic instructor.
