Notre Dame softball's Grumpf retires as winningest head coach in school history

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame Softball Coach Deanna Gumpf announced on Thursday that she will not only be stepping down from her position with the Fighting Irish, but she will also be retiring from coaching altogether. 

“Notre Dame softball has been one of the greatest gifts I have ever received, and I am incredibly grateful to have had the honor of leading this program over the past 23 years.” Gumpf said, “This has been an incredible journey. Retiring has not been an easy decision, but it is the right decision.”

Gumpf hangs up her cleats as the all-time winningest head coach in Notre Dame athletics history, earning 882 wins over 23 seasons at the helm of the Irish.

Her historic run included 21 consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, five National Fastpitch Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year honors, 13 NCAA regional final appearances, 11 BIG EAST titles (seven regular-season, four tournaments), 24 NFCA All-Americans, eight conference players of the year, four conference pitchers of the year and one defensive player of the year.

“I am indebted to every player who has worn the Irish uniform, my coaching staff who have given their hearts to our program and my support staff who have worked tirelessly to make us better, said Grumpf. I am so grateful for my administration who have been so supportive of me and this program over the years. I am filled with gratitude for all the people who make Notre Dame softball what it is. It’s so much more than just softball.”

According to the school, Gumpf assumed the head coach position at Notre Dame in 2002, taking over for NFCA Hall of Famer Liz Miller after serving as an assistant under Miller for four seasons.

“Deanna’s overwhelmingly successful tenure as a leader of student-athletes at Notre Dame will forever have a place in our athletics history,” said University Vice President and James E. Rohr Director of Athletics Pete Bevacqua.

"Her unwavering commitment to providing her team with an unmatched student-athlete experience that focuses on creating a winning culture in the classroom and on the field is a lesson to coaches here at Notre Dame and around the country. In my short time as Athletic Director, it has been wonderful to see the love that Deanna, her husband, John, and their children, Brady and Tatum, have for this University and I truly hope that we will continue to see them on campus for years to come."

Gumpf would then compile a streak of 18 consecutive seasons with at least 30 wins (before the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) and won 30 or more games in 21 of her 22 full seasons.

She and her husband John have two children, Tatum, and Brady, who is a senior on the 2023-24 Notre Dame baseball team.

The program say that a national search will begin immediately to find its next head coach.