Thursday, August 27, 2015
by MSUB Sports Information

BILLINGS, Mont. – Bekah Gasner, a Montana State University Billings softball alumna and assistant coach in the program for the past five seasons, has been named the Yellowjackets’ head coach on an interim basis announced by the department of intercollegiate athletics on Wednesday.

“After conducting a national search, we are pleased to announce that Bekah will assume head coaching duties of our softball program,” commented MSUB director of athletics Krista Montague. “With her experience as an assistant coach in the program and former student-athlete on the team, we have full confidence in Bekah’s ability to take the reins and assume the duties of head coach.”

“I am excited about the opportunity to take on the role as interim head coach for Yellowjacket Softball,” Gasner commented. “Lisa (Allen) has built a strong, competitive program here over the past seven years and I am looking forward to continuing that tradition. I would also like to thank Krista, our administration, and my fellow coaches for entrusting me with this new responsibility and for providing a tremendous amount of support through this transition. We have a phenomenal team coming in this year and I cannot wait to kick off our fall season!”

Gasner’s status as head coach will begin immediately and will be on an interim basis for the 2015-16 academic year. A search for a permanent head coach will begin following the spring 2016 season. Gasner, who has served primarily as a pitching coach in the program, takes the place of former MSUB head coach Lisa Allen, who accepted the head coaching position at San Francisco State University in early July.

Gasner completed her fifth year as an assistant coach with the Yellowjackets in 2015, helping lead the squad to a Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament championship, a second-place finish at the NCAA Division II West Region Championships, and an overall record of 31-23.

Gasner was also an assistant coach during MSUB’s regional appearance in 2012, and was a pitcher on the team in 2009 which broke the school record for wins (39) and advanced to the regionals.

After finishing her career at MSUB among the top-five in career earned run average, strikeouts, innings pitched, and shutouts, Gasner played professionally for the Amsterdam Pirates in the Netherlands. She also spent time as an assistant coach at Billings Senior High School, before assuming her most recent position as MSUB assistant coach.

Gasner, who has also served as an assistant compliance coordinator for MSUB over the past two years, completed her master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies in sport and exercise leadership in 2015, after earning her bachelor’s degree from MSUB in health and human performance.