Geoff Hirai

In 2018, Geoff Hirai begins his third season as the head coach of the Seattle U softball program. A member of the coaching staff at three major conference schools over the past 10 years, was named head softball coach of the Redhawks prior to the 2015-16 season.

In 2017, Hirai got Seattle U within three outs of the program's first WAC Championship. The Redhawks defeated Utah Valley and host New Mexico State to advance to the title game, as Andie Larkins' tremendous pitching efforts led the way. SU and NM State squared off in an epic conference championship, with both teams rallying from multi-run deficits. Home runs by Maddy Kristjanson and Kayla Gonzales gave the Redhawks the lead, but the Aggies escaped with a 15-14 win and then claimed the victory in the winner-take-all contest that followed.

Hirai took Seattle U to 20 wins on the year, including the first perfect game of the season in Division I and a 12-inning victory in the longest game in program history. Alyssa Reuble tossed a perfect game against South Dakota on March 10. She retired all 15 batters in an 8-0 win at the University of Washington. Reuble then pitched all 12 innings in a 7-2 win at Grand Canyon on March 31. She threw 157 pitches, earning a strikeout to end the game in the Redhawks' favor.

Paige Bouska wrapped a terrific career in 2017, setting the school's all-time hits record with 235. She was chosen First Team All-WAC. Alyson Matriotti joined Bouska on the conference's first team, hitting .419 in WAC contests. Larkins and Madison Cathcart were named All-WAC Second Team. Larkins, Kristjanson, Cathcart, and Jessica Flanagan were named to the WAC All-Tournament Team.

During the 2016 season, Hirai led the team to two wins in the WAC Tournament for the first time since SU entered the league. Hirai also coached the softball program to surpass the number of wins recorded in the 2014-15 season.

Hirai comes to Seattle U after four years with the Oregon State softball program, including the past three seasons as the associate head coach. Working mainly with the team’s hitters, he was instrumental in building Oregon State’s offense into one of the best in school history and most consistent in the nation.

This past season, the Beavers combined for a .298 batting average, the best in school history. Oregon State also scored 300 runs, one shy of a school record, en route to a 26-26 season. The year was highlighted by road wins over No. 16 Arizona State, No. 20 Washington and California, and seven Beavers earned Pac-12 honors for their work during the 2015 season.

Hirai helped Oregon State to back-to-back 30-win seasons and berths into the NCAA Tournament in 2012 and 2013. Thanks to Hirai’s coaching, the Beavers set numerous offensive records over the past four seasons.

Hirai spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Virginia, serving as the team’s hitting coach while also aiding in the program’s recruiting efforts. During his time in Charlottesville, Virginia compiled an 83-75 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2010.

This will not be Hirai’s first coaching job within the city of Seattle, as he spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Washington, with the Huskies advancing to the NCAA Tournament every year, including a berth in the 2007 Women’s College World Series. He helped four players collect five All-America honors, including two-time honoree Ashley Charters and Danielle Lawrie.

Before coaching at Washington, Hirai worked as owner, instructor and coach at the All-Star Dugout in Irvine, Calif. He also coached an 18-under travel team for four seasons, providing instruction to aspiring collegiate and professional baseball players. Hirai was a scout with Cincinnati Reds from 2001-03 where he was responsible for evaluating players for the Major League Baseball draft.

Hirai was a four-year baseball letterwinner at Hawai’i-Hilo, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1998 and served as the team’s assistant coach for three seasons while working to obtain his teaching certificate in secondary education.

Hirai and his wife, Tracy, have a son, Gavin, and a daughter, Jordyn.