Coaching Staff
Larry Hays | Head Coach
With a resume full of outstanding accomplishments, Larry Hays joined the softball program in 2018 as the Colorado Christian head softball coach.
At CCU, Hays has turned the program into a national powerhouse, winning 191 games with the Cougars. He has taken them to Regionals four times and has claimed three RMAC tournament titles.
2025 saw another strong season for CCU as they claimed the regular season and RMAC Tournament title, booking their fourth straight spot at the NCAA Regionals.
During the 2024 season, the Cougars continued with another incredible season winning 50 out of 60 games played. CCU finished as the runner ups at the RMAC Championships and made their third straight appearance at Regionals.
In 2023, the Cougars soared to new heights setting a program record with 34 straight wins in route to a 42-2 conference record. CCU rolled their way to the RMAC regular season title and continued their hot streak as they did not lose a game on their way to their second consecutive RMAC Tournament Title.
In 2022, Hays' Cougars made history, winning the program's first ever RMAC Tournament title. He led the Cougars to a 49-10 overall record and a berth in the NCAA Regional Tournament.
During the 2021 campaign, he guided the Cougars to the championship game of the RMAC Tournament. Hays also coached Piper Lujan and Sydney Reamer to All- American honors.
A shortened 2020 season, he led the team to a 20-7 record and tied for the lead in the RMAC and created a high-powered offense that was second in the nation in runs.
During his first season, he led the squad to a second-place finish in the RMAC while coaching six all-conference players. Four players earned All-Region accolades while one, Stephanie Day, earned All-American honors.
As a collegiate women's softball coach in 2010, Hays led the Lubbock Christian Lady Chaps to a 54-7 record and an NAIA National Championship. He coached baseball for 15 years at Lubbock Christian and for 22 years at Texas Tech, compiling a remarkable 1509-860 record over those years. Coach Hays is one of four coaches in NCAA history to reach 1,500 career wins while he was coaching baseball at Texas Tech. Additionally, Hays coached the men's & women's basketball teams at Lubbock Christian and served as their Athletic Director for eight years.
In addition to winning multiple conference and national championships, Hays has received numerous personal awards including the following: Southwest Conference Baseball Coach of the Year, Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year, NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee, Texas Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee, and National College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.
Larry and his wife, Nell, have five children: three boys, two girls, and 11 grandchildren. Ironically, Larry will be coaching in the same region as his two sons Shanon, at Grand Canyon University, and Daren at Lubbock Christian. Two of his grandchildren, Hunter and Heath, played on the Colorado Christian baseball team.
Quoted from Coach Hays
”I always coached for the fun of it,” Larry Hays said. “My 20 years at Lubbock Christian University and my 22 years at Texas Tech coaching baseball were a blast. Now coaching softball at CCU is icing on the cake. It’s even more fun seeing my two sons and grandson Hunter having the privilege to get to coach at the college level. We have been blessed.”
More about Coach Hays
- RMAC Coach of the Year, 2023
- RMAC Coach of the Year, 2022
- NAIA National Championship, Lubbock Christian University, 2010
- NAIA National Championship, Lubbock Christian University Baseball, 1983
- Coached 22 years of baseball at Texas Tech winning over 1500 games
- Southwest Conference Baseball Coach of the Year
- Big 12 Baseball Coach of the Year
- NAIA Hall of Fame Inductee
- National College Baseball Hall of Fame Inductee.
- NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- South Central Regional Appearance, 2025
- RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025
- RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025
- D2CCA First Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- D2CCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- NFCA Second Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- NFCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2024
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Kaila Eastburn, 2024
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Elyse McMullin, 2024
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2024
- RMAC Freshman of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kaila Eastburn, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Emma Duncan, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Leah Garcia, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024
- South Central Regional Appearance 2024
- RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Taylor Olsen, 2023
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2023
- RMAC All Tournament Team, Leah Garcia, 2023
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Savannah Tourville, 2023
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC Academic Player of the Year, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC Tournament MVP, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC First Team Academic All American, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Logan Menzies, 2023
- D2CCA Third Team All American, Logan Menzies, 2023
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Sami Edwards, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Academic, Sami Edwards, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Sami Edwards, 2023
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2023
- First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Academic, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- South Central Regionals Finalist, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- D2CCA Third Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kali Crandall, 2023
- NFCA South Central Region First Team, Kali Crandall, 2023
- South Central Regionals Finalist, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC All Tournament Team, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC Pitcher of the Week 7x, Kali Crandall, 2023
- CSC Second Team Academic All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- CSC Academic All District, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA/NFCA First Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- South Central First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Academic First Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- Golden Glove Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Tournament Title, 2023
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023
- NCAA Regional Tournament, 2022
- RMAC Tournament Champions, 2022
- All-American Sami Edwards, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Alexis Hamilton, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Sydney Reamer, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Piper Lujan, 2022
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2022
- All-American Sydney Reamer, 2021
- All-American Piper Lujan, 2021
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2021
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Stephanie Day, 2021
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2021
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Caitlin McCarthy, 2021
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2021
- Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2021
- South Central First Team All Region, Sydney Reamer, 2021
- D2CCA South Central First Team All Region, Piper Lujan, 2021
- NFCA South Central Second Team All Region, Piper Lujan, 2021
- RMAC All-Academic First Team, Piper Lujan, 2021
- RMAC Tournament, 2021
- CoSIDA Academic All American, Stephanie Day, 2020
- RMAC All Academic First Team, Stephanie Day, 2020
- RMAC All Academic Second Team, Kaci Burger, 2020
- RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Piper Lujan, 2020
- RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Caitlin McCarthy, 2020
- RMAC All Academic Honorable Mention, Jennifer Romero, 2020
- All-American Stephanie Day, 2019
- D2CCA South Central First Team All Region, Stephanie Day, 2019
- D2CCA South Central Second Team All Region, Kendall Yasui, 2019
- NFCA South Central First Team All Region, Stephanie Day, 2019
- NFCA South Central Second Team All Region, Charlotte Romero, 2019
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Mattey, 2019
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Stephanie Day, 2019
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kendall Yasui, 2019
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Hanna Farmer, 2019
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Charlotte Romero, 2019
- RMAC Honorable Mention All Conference, Kaci Burger, 2019
- RMAC All Academic First Team, Kenzie Mattey, 2019
Kenzie Liberty | Assistant Coach
As one of the best athletes to come through the CCU Softball program, Kenzie Middleton began a legacy for herself that will continue on within her new role as assistant coach. The spring season of 2025 will be her first season, and in the summer of 2025 she was promoted to First Assistant Coach. From Arvada, Colorado she brings consistency and familiarity to a team she knows well.
During her four years as an athlete, Middleton garnered countless awards and school records that set the bar high. her records range from most career hits, career runs, career RBI, career home runs, career doubles, career triples, career slugging percentage, season runs, season RBI, and season home runs. These numbers came from a strong love for the game, work ethic, and diligence on and off the field. Kenzie has showcased her versatility as a player, excelling behind the plate, in the batter's box, and the outfield. Her impact has also been demonstrated through her leadership as team captain her senior year.
Off the field, Kenzie and her twin sister, Kayla enjoy spending time with family and being outdoors. Boating, camping, golf, tennis, and pickle ball are just a few hobbies she enjoys. It comes as no surprise that sports run deep in their family as Kenzie and her twin sister have left their mark on the CCU Softball team. Middleton's mom, aunt, and uncle all played tennis in college at UNC; a further testimony to the skilled and hard working family she was raised by.
More about Coach Liberty
- NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- South Central Regional Appearance, 2025
- RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025
- RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025
- Patch News 1 of 5 Top Athletes, 2024
- D2CCA Third Team All American, 2024
- NFCA Third Team All American, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Academic, 2024
- D2CCA First Team All Region, 2024
- NFCA First Team All Region, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, 2024
- South Central Regional Appearance 2024
- RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024
- Week 5 RMAC Player of the Week, 2024
- Week 2 RMAC Player of the Week, 2024
- Sportswoman of Colorado Honoree, 2023
- CSC Second Team Academic All American, 2023
- NFCA First Team All American, 2023
- D2CCA First Team All American, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, 2023
- RMAC Academic First Team, 2023
- NFCA First Team All Region, 2023
- D2CCA South Central Region First Team, 2023
- D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, 2023
- RMAC Player of the Year, 2023
- First Team All Conference, 2023
- South Central Regional Finalist, 2023
- RMAC Tournament Title, 2023
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023
- RMAC Tournament Title, 2022
- Week 4 RMAC player of the week, 2022
- Week 7 RMAC player of the week, 2022
- Week 12 RMAC player of the week, 2021
- RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2021
Katie Thornton | Pitching Coach
Thornton led FCA in high school and college, and did a variety of internships for FCA as well. Thornton said, “I loved the ministry and had always wanted to be on staff full time, but wasn’t sure when/if that would happen.” After graduating, Thornton taught 4th grade for 3 years in Wheaton and coached at Wheaton College. Then in 2018, while in a conversation with a friend, she dreamed about being on staff with FCA full time. There were 3 things Thornton had said she wanted to do if she were to come on staff. They were: 1) Work with college athletes, 2) Do more discipleship work vs. evangelistic work and 3) Get to do something similar to the model of FCA she had in Wheaton where college athletes got plugged into a local high school near campus to lead high schoolers. Thornton said, “A few months later, that position was created at CCU, and the Lord opened the door the following spring for me to apply and accept the position.” Thornton moved out to Colorado in September of 2019, and worked for FCA while helping with the softball team at CCU since 2020. Now, she currently serves as the Salt Company Associate Minister at Storyline Church in Arvada, CO.
More about Coach Thornton
- NFCA Third Team All American, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- CSC First Team Academic All District, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- NFCA DII Rawlings Gold Glove, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Hanna Espinoza, 2025
- RMAC Academic First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- South Central Regional Appearance, 2025
- RMAC Tournament Champions, 2025
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2025
- RMAC Player of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Camryn Quilling, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Gold Glove, Emma Duncan, 2025
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Danae Lopez, 2025
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Rachel Williams, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Mia Stankiewicz, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Cheyenne Stark, 2025
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Peyton Marvel, 2025
- NFCA Second Team All American, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- NFCA Third Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024
- RMAC First Team Academic All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2024
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Kaila Eastburn, 2024
- RMAC Honorable Mention, Elyse McMullin, 2024
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2024
- RMAC Freshman of the Year, Elyse McMullin, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kaila Eastburn, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2024
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Emma Duncan, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Leah Garcia, 2024
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2024
- South Central Regional Appearance 2024
- RMAC Tournament Runners Up, 2024
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Taylor Olsen, 2023
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2023
- RMAC All Tournament Team, Leah Garcia, 2023
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Savannah Tourville, 2023
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC Academic Player of the Year, Logan Menzies, 2023
- RMAC Tournament MVP, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC First Team Academic All American, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Logan Menzies, 2023
- D2CCA Third Team All American, Logan Menzies, 2023
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Logan Menzies, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Sami Edwards, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Academic, Sami Edwards, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Sami Edwards, 2023
- RMAC Gold Glove Team, Sami Edwards, 2023
- First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2023
- CSC Academic All District Team, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Academic, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All Region, Kayla Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA Second Team All Region, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- South Central Regionals Finalist, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Abrie Castillo, 2023
- D2CCA Third Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023
- NFCA Second Team All American, Kali Crandall, 2023
- D2CCA First Team All Region, Kali Crandall, 2023
- NFCA South Central Region First Team, Kali Crandall, 2023
- South Central Regionals Finalist, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC All Tournament Team, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC Pitcher of the Year, Kali Crandall, 2023
- RMAC Pitcher of the Week 7x, Kali Crandall, 2023
- CSC Second Team Academic All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- CSC Academic All District, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA/NFCA First Team All American, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- South Central First Team All Region, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- D2CCA South Central Region Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Academic First Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Player of the Year, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- Golden Glove Team, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2023
- RMAC Tournament Title, 2023
- RMAC Regular Season Champions, 2023
- RMAC Tournament Champions, 2022
- All-American Sami Edwards, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Alexis Hamilton, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Taylor Olsen, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Sydney Reamer, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Sydney Reamer, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Sami Edwards, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Kenzie Middleton, 2022
- RMAC First Team All Conference, Piper Lujan, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Piper Lujan, 2022
- RMAC Second Team All Conference, Kayla Middleton, 2022
- Golden Glove Team, Kaelin Morkisch, 2022