VANCOUVER – After nearly a decade at the helm of the UBC Thunderbirds Softball program, Head Coach
Gord Collings has announced his retirement.
Since his hiring in the summer of 2013, the former Delta School District teacher and administrator successfully navigated his team through more curveballs than any other UBC program, all the while growing his team and molding dozens of young players, all while advacing to four straight appearances at the Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament.
"It was just time," said Collings of his bittersweet decision to retire. "Family is number one and I'll get to spend more time with my wife and daughters and grandkids, having the opportunity to help them out and watching the kids grow and all that will be huge. I'll still be around, I'll offer support as much as I can from a distance. I'll help with the transition with the new coach and also in any way I can to help the program continue to grow and be successful. And enjoy a little bit of vacation time too."
To say Collings was more than a coach is to understate his impact not only on his own program, but the entire UBC Athletics community.
A UBC alumnus himself, graduating in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree and adding a Masters of Education in 1985, Collings oversaw the re-instatement of the Softball program as a varsity team, navigated through two lost seasons and the rough waters of the COVID-19 pandemic, and led the transition to a new, permanent home on campus this past year.
Until the fall of 2021, the team had competed at Softball City in South Surrey, a facility that never really felt truly like home given its hour-long commute from UBC itself. But tireless efforts from Collings and with the help from donors and alumni, the team found itself a new home in Wesbrook Village. Named after the beloved coach, Collings Field at Nobel Park will be a lasting legacy for the man who saved the program and brought it to be the highly competitive team that it is today.
"Getting the program reinstated and going through all the challenges that were involved with getting us back as a varsity team, I think that's what I'm the proudest of," said Collings, reflecting on his nine years with UBC. "We were cut and now we're back and going strong with the field out there and the opportunity with the players to play on campus, I think those two are the biggest."
Competing in their first full CCC campaign in three years, 2022 saw the T-Birds complete the season with a 21-20 overall record, the first time finishing above .500 since joining the conference in 2016. The team won their final five conference games to qualify for the Cascade tournament where they turned heads in eliminating the two-time defending NAIA Champion Southern Oregon Raiders.
"Just the way we re-formed and then in the playoffs…knocking off the defending champions in pretty good fashion, it was just very rewarding that the players' commitment and dedication showed. I'm very proud of what they did and how they represented our school, it's a great feeling. When I talk about mixed feelings, that's the positive, knowing they did so well."
From the positive strides made during this past season to the new home field bearing his own name, Collings leaves the program stronger than ever.
"I'm very encouraged about the future and I'm optimistic about how successful the team's going to be. It's in a good spot and I feel this is an opportune time to move on where the players can compete and be proud of what they've done. It's a good time."
A search for the next UBC Softball Head Coach will be underway in the coming weeks.