Candace Abrams enters her first season at the helm of the Lady Buffs following three years as the program’s top assistant.
Since arriving in Canyon, Abrams has been a part of two Lone Star Conference Championships as well as a South Central Regional Title and trip to the DII College World Series. Abrams also serves as the staff advisor for the “Hollerin Herd” and she was named the 2016 Advisor of the Year.
Abrams enters the 2018 season with an overall career record of 202-65-1 (.754). The Tucson native registered her 100th career victory on May 9, 2015 in a 7-6 extra inning victory on Angelo State during the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament in Canyon. Her 200th career win came on May 5, 2017 as the Lady Buffs topped Cameron (7-6) during the Semifinal Round of the LSC Championship in San Angelo.
The Lady Buffs continued to prove themselves as one of the top programs in all of Division II Softball during the 2017 campaign as they claimed the program’s fourth Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship and hosted the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for the fifth straight season. The Lady Buffs hit .371 as a team with 120 doubles, 10 triples and 98 homeruns to drive in 401 RBI for an incredible slugging percentage of .667.
2016 was arguably one of the best seasons in Lone Star Conference history as the Lady Buffs finished the season ranked fifth in the final NFCA DII Top-25 Poll with an overall record of 59-5 while rolling thru the LSC with an incredible mark of 30-2 to claim their third straight conference title. The Lady Buffs started out the season on a roll as they went unbeaten in their first 30 contests to set a new LSC and South Central Region record for consecutive wins.
WT continued their dominance in 2015 as Abrams helped lead the Lady Buffs to the program’s second straight and third overall Lone Star Conference Championship as they finished the season 45-11 with a 22-6 mark in LSC play. WT made national news during the 2015 season, remaining the top team in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top-25 Poll for a record 56-straight weeks (2/26/14 - 3/25/15). WT led the nation in four offensive statustical categories during the 2015 season while also hitting 102 homeruns to become the first team in Division II history to reach the century mark in back-to-back years.
Abrams came to Canyon in the Summer of 2014 following a two year stint as the head coach at Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference member Colorado Mesa. While at Mesa, she led the Mavericks to the 2014 RMAC regular season title with a 27-21 record while finishing 2013 with an overall record of 28-17-1.
Abrams arrived in Grand Junction following two years on the coaching staff at University of Arizona. In 2012, Abrams helped lead the Wildcats to the NCAA Division I Super Regional title game before bowing out to eventual national runner-up, Oklahoma.
Prior to her arrival Arizona she spent two years as assistant coach at NCAA Division II Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida, while pursuing her master’s degree. During her tenure at Barry University she designed and implemented drills for outfielders, catchers and hitters while she assisted in recruiting student-athletes, fundraising and day-to-day operations.
Abrams led the Catalina Foothills High School team in Tucson for two years in 2007 and 2008. While at CFHS, she oversaw all aspects of the softball program, organizing practices for team and individual skill improvement while creating a balance between academic and softball performance.
Abrams began her coaching career as an assistant coach at Pima Community College in Tucson from 2005-2007, the Aztecs won the NJCAA Division I Championship in 2006 and the coaching staff was named Coaching Staff of the Year.
A graduate of the University of Arizona, Abrams played four years under legendary head coach Mike Candrea and was a member of the 2001 NCAA Division I National Championship team. A four-year letterwinner, the versatile Abrams played catcher and outfield during her career with the Wildcats. An Academic All-American Honorable Mention, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and State of Arizona Teaching Certification in 2004.
"You have hired a young lady that has a passion for the game" said Candrea "Candance has a tremendous work ethic and will bring great energy and knowledge to your athletes and coaching staff. I am proud that she is a former Wildcat."
Abrams earned her master's degree in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2010 from Barry University.
