Western Oregon University Wolves

Lonny Sargent finished his ninth year in charge of the Western Oregon University softball program during the 2021 season in record-breaking fashion. Following the win at Central Washington on Apr. 29, 2021, Sargent became the all-time winningest coach in program history picking up win 227 at WOU. In his first nine seasons, Sargent has compiled a 230-195 record and a 124-83 mark in GNAC games for a .599 winning percentage in league contests.

Although the 2020 season was a short one, the Wolves were getting on the right track towards another successful season when everything was halted. During the early season tournaments, WOU picked up wins over Sonoma State and Colorado Christian and later added a big win over #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville. While the team was only able to play five conference games, the Wolves picked up wins over Central Washington and swept MSU Billings in the final doubleheader of the year.
 
The 2019 campaign was another terrific season on the field for the Wolves as Sargent led WOU to the second-most wins during his career in Monmouth piling up 33. Not only did the Wolves put together another strong overall season, the 19 GNAC victories is the most during Sargent’s tenure to finish second in the conference standings, just two games back of first. WOU was dominant at home going 12-4 and ended the regular season on a high-note winning six straight games entering the GNAC Tournament. The Wolves made a push at the NCAA West Regionals fighting back from an opening day loss to win a pair of 1-0 games over Concordia (OR) and San Francisco State coming up just one win short of having the chance to play for a spot in Super Regionals. Ten student-athletes were named to the Academic All-GNAC Team, while seven were named to the All-GNAC team for their play on the field including Ayanna Arceneaux and Ryanne Whitaker who were both first team selections. Arceneaux also took home NFCA All-American honors marking the first time a player from WOU had won the distinction since 2009. Maddie Mayer was tabbed as the Freshman of the Year.
 
During the 2018 season, WOU made a push late in the season before coming in third in the GNAC standings. The Wolves picked up 28 wins and 15 conference victories, adding a win in the GNAC Tournament that season over Central Washington. Four student-athletes were named to the Academic All-GNAC Team, while five were named to the All-GNAC team for their play on the field including first team selections Ryanne Huffman and Tyler Creach. Huffman was later named to the D2CCA All-West Region Team.
 
The 2017 season had the Wolves pushing for a GNAC Tournament title after finishing second in the conference during the regular season, WOU made it to the GNAC Tournament title game after pulling an upset win over Central Washington along the way. It was the season of traveling and being on the road as the Wolves played just four games at home that season (which were played on the campus of Oregon State) and ended up playing 32 true road games and 17 neutral site contests. Despite all of that, WOU recorded 29 overall victories and 14 GNAC wins. Kelsie Gardner and Destiny Kuehl were named All-GNAC first team recipients for their play on the field as three Wolves received honors. Seven student-athletes were also named to the Academic All-GNAC squad.

Under Sargent’s guidance, WOU is the only program in the GNAC to qualify for every conference tournament since its inception in 2013. The Wolves were the GNAC regular season and tournament champions in 2014 and went on to compete at the NCAA Div. II West Regionals after compiling the most wins (34) in a single season in program history. Western Oregon broke several school records during the 2014 season, and Sargent was tabbed the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for his efforts. Six Wolves were named All-Conference, including Kelsie Gardner, who was named the conference Freshman of the Year.

The Wolves have never placed lower than fourth in the GNAC standings with Sargent at the helm and came within a single win of claiming their second conference crown in 2016 as the team tied for second place in the conference standings. The 2016 team went 31-24 overall on the season and 16-11 in conference play to place second or higher in conference for the third time in five years.

In 2015, Sargent led the Wolves to a fourth-place finish in the GNAC and an appearance in the conference's tournament. WOU went 21-28 overall and had four All-GNAC team selections. One of Sargent's players, Amanda Evola, garnered her third NFCA All-West selection on the second team.

In his first season with the Wolves program, Sargent led WOU to a 27-26 overall mark as WOU finished in second place in the league standings with an impressive, 16-8 record. WOU advanced to the GNAC Softball Championship as the Wolves placed five on the all-conference squad, including Amanda Evola, who earned All-West Region honors as a sophomore. 

Sargent joined the WOU program after a three-year stint as head coach at Reynolds High School in Troutdale, Ore. While at Reynolds, Sargent helped lead a turnaround that has seen the school average more than 10 wins per year after only one win prior to Sargent’s arrival.

Prior to joining Reynolds, Sargent spent two seasons as the head softball coach at Utah State. While with the Aggies, Sargent helped lead the team to 23 wins in 2005, the most for the program since the 1996 season. Sargent joined the Aggies staff as an assistant coach in 2004 after serving as an assistant coach at Troy for one season.

Before working at Troy, Sargent spent six seasons as the head coach at Mt. Hood Community College. While at Mt. Hood, Sargent's teams compiled an overall record of 175-98 (.641 winning percentage) and earned six trips to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Championship.

Sargent also served as a co-head coach and an assistant coach at Warner Pacific College, his alma mater, for four seasons. In 1992, Sargent helped lead the Knights to the league championship.

In addition to his collegiate experience, Sargent has also held head coaching positions at Sunset High School in Beaverton, Ore., and at Sherwood (Ore.) High School, while also having extensive experience running softball camps and clinics.

Sargent earned his bachelor’s degree in human development from Warner Pacific College and has two children, Brock, a Northwest Nazarene University graduate who competed in golf for the Crusaders, and McKenzie, who is a graduate of WOU. He currently resides in Monmouth, Ore., with his better half, Erin.


 

	SARGENT AT RECORD
	Overall			GNAC
	W	L	%	W	L	%	Postseason	Season
2013	27	26	.509	16	8	.667	GNAC Tournament (4th)	1
2014*	34	23	.596	18	6	.750	GNAC Tournament (1st), advanced to West Regionals	2
2015	21	28	.429.	13	9	.591	GNAC Tournament (4th)	3
2016	31	24	.564.	17	11	.607	GNAC Tournament (2nd)	4
2017	29	24	.547	14	14	.500	GNAC Tournament (2nd)	5
2018	28	25	.528	15	13	.536	GNAC Tournament (3rd)	6
2019	33	18	.647	19	9	.679	GNAC Tournament (4th), advanced to West Regionals	7
2020	13	10	.565	3	2	.600	Season ended early due to COVID-19	8
2021	14	17	.452	9	11	.450	GNAC Tournament (3rd)	9
Totals	230	195	.541	124	83	.599	1 GNAC Tournament Title
*GNAC regular-season title