Rockhurst University Director of Athletics Kristy Bayer has announced the hiring of Dana Goss as the school's new head softball coach on Tuesday, July 25.



Goss posted a 102-52 record over the past four seasons as the head coach at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. Goss was named the 2023 NFCA Region V Coach of the Year as Baker won a school-record 47 games and was ranked as high as No. 4 nationally. The Wildcats had the lowest team ERA (1.27) in the country and advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time in school history.

"Dana is a home run hire for us," Bayer said. "She checks all of the boxes we are looking for in our next head coach. She has had tremendous success as a collegiate head coach. She is well known in the recruiting circles of Kansas City.

"Not only is she a strong leader, but she is a Rockhurst alum. The most important thing is she understands the mission and values that we hold very high here at Rockhurst."

Goss graduated from Rockhurst with a degree in Exercise Science and spent five seasons (2007-12) as an assistant coach at Rockhurst under former head coach Galen Struve. The Hawks qualified for the GLVC Tournament for the first time in program history in 2008 and came one game short of reaching the finals in the GLVC Tournament in 2011.

Prior to her time at Baker, Goss spent one year at Avila University where her team posted a 20-4 record and appeared in the NAIA national tournament in 2019. Goss also guided the Benedictine College program for four seasons (2013-17) and led the Ravens to their first back-to-back winning seasons.

Goss was also the head coach for two seasons at Maple Woods Community College from 2004-06, earning NJCAA Region XVI Coach of the Year honors in 2005.

"We are excited for Dana to get connected with our team and start building the foundation for success here at Rockhurst. As a former player, she has a love and passion for Rockhurst softball that will help give us stability and long-term growth," Bayer added.