Softball Coaching Staff
- Head Coach Dennis Shores - Podcast
Dennis Shores took over as Guilford's fifth fastpitch softball head coach in January 2007, just prior to the season's start. He inherited a struggling program that won nine games the previous season and had 11 students on the roster. Now entering his his fourth Guilford campaign, Shores has the Quakers rewriting the school-record books with a full roster and primed for an Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) title run.
Despite starting on such an ominous note, Shores coaxed the short-handed Quakers to 10 wins in 2007. Following a year of training and recruiting, Guilford won 20 games in 2008 and made the young program's second ODAC Tournament appearance. The league's softball coaches awarded Shores the 2008 ODAC Coach of the Year Award. The program took another step forward in 2009 with a school-record 26 wins and its first ODAC Tournament victory. Guilford set 46 team and individual marks and ranked 11th in Division III with a .971 fielding percentage.
Shores has a 56-64-1 record in his three Guilford seasons. Six of his students have combined for two all-region, two all-state and four All-ODAC commendations.
Shores came to Guilford after three seasons as an assistant coach at Neumann (Pa.) College, during which time the Knights compiled a 60-52 record. He worked with head coach Bill Saar and helped Neumann to its first Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title and NCAA Division III Tournament berth in 2006.
A native of Chester County, Pa., Shores founded and coached the Chester County Stars, a United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) softball program with youth teams in five age groups. He served as Tournament Director for the Stars College Showcase and as president of GGS Fastpitch. A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, Shores hosted winter pitching clinics in the Downingtown (Pa.) area for six years and is also an experienced hitting instructor. He resides in High Point, N.C. with his wife, Susan. The couple has three children and two grandchildren.
Assistant Coach Stephen Hill
Now in his third year, Stephen Hill comes to Guilford with over 17 years of coaching experience in several different settings. He organized and played in the Oak Ridge Church League, with the High Point Little League, and the Greensboro Adult League. He brings a variety of skills and leadership to Guilford's softball program. Hill will work primarily with the outfielders. He is also employed by Guilford College as a maintenance technician and is a part-time student at Guilford majoring in pre-business MBA. His daughter, Rachel, is a freshman on this year's team.
Assistant Coach Randy Hutcherson
A fixture in the local elite traveling softball circles, Randy Hutcherson joined the Quakers' coaching staff in 2008. He served as the Quakers' first-base coach for the 2009 season, during which time Guilford set school records for overall and league wins in a season. Hutcherson served four years as the head coach of the North Carolina Challengers 18-under College Showcase Team and also directed 16- and 18-under teams for the North Carolina Spinners from 2002-04. A resident of Staley, N.C., his daughter, Ami, plays for the Quakers.
Assistant Coach Teresa Sanford
Teresa Sanford brings 37 years of playing experience with two semifinal appearances at the National Women's Slow-Pitch Class A World Series Tournament. She joined Guilford's staff in 2008 and has coached youth baseball and softball in Greensboro for over 10 years. Sanford serves as a board member for the Greensboro Girls Fast Pitch Association. She will be responsible for developing hitting skills and advancement for the team. Sanford is a 16-year employee of Guilford College and holds the position of Director, User Services within the Information Technology & Services Department. Her daughter, Jordan, plays for the Quakers.