TORONTO – The Seneca Sting is pleased to announce the hiring of Wayne Gray-Baker as the new head coach of the women's softball team.
Gray-Baker brings more than 15 years of coaching experience to the Sting through his involvement with sport in Mississauga.
"I'm excited to have the chance to lead one of the premier softball programs in Canada. It's special because this program has such great history, pride, tradition and passion for softball and its student-athletes."
Most recently, Gray-Baker has coached the Mississauga Southwest Hurricanes, a team which has experienced eight consecutive seasons with a winning record.
Off the field, Gray-Baker is the vice president of rep softball within Mississauga Southwest where his experience, knowledge and leadership are instrumental in the recruitment and development of talent at all levels.
Jason Kerswill, Seneca's manager of athletics, recreation and sport centre operations had high praise for Gray-Baker as a person and as a coach leading the Sting.
"Wayne brings a wealth of passion and experience to the women's softball program which will be essential as we look to build the team over the years to come. His dedication to the development of student-athletes fits well into the philosophy of the Sting varsity program which is one that promotes excellence, leadership and character development."
Under Gray-Baker's tutelage, his teams have competed at both the Provincial Women's Softball Association Championship and Softball Canada championship, highlighted by one gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Gray-Baker returns to the Sting family after serving as an assistant coach with the Mohawk Mountaineers women's softball team. Prior to last season, Gray-Baker was an assistant coach with the Sting men's baseball team during the 2014 campaign.
Gray-Baker will be taking over for longtime head coach Rick Finlay who retired after 30 seasons at the helm. Finlay was inducted into the Seneca Sting Hall of Fame upon retiring and received coaching excellence recognition.
"There will be some challenges as I will have some big shoes to fill in taking over from a 30-plus year veteran of the game in Finlay. The administration at Seneca is world-class and will provide the support that is needed to make this softball program successful."
Joining Gray-Baker's staff as an assistant coach is Dave Clark. Clark is NCCP Level 2 trained in softball and has been coaching elite girls' softball since 2007. Clark was on the coaching staff who won Softball Canada's 14U national championship in 2011.
The 2016 regular season begins the first week of September with tryouts commencing the middle of August.
Source: Seneca College