Shannon Gower is the longest tenured coach in Texas Wesleyan Softball history, entering her 17th season in 2022. In 2009, Gower became the winningest coach in program history, a record that now stands at 420.
After 16 seasons, Gower holds an overall record of 420-406 (.508).
Last season (2021), Gower guided the Lady Rams to 17 wins while still navigating the COVID-19 landscape. The team went 15-17 in Sooner Athletic Conference play and was the fifth seed in the SAC Tournament. Three Lady Rams were named All-Conference including Brynna Foster who was named both 1st-team All-SAC and SAC Freshman of the Year becoming the first Lady Ram to win such an award. Foster batted .371 with 11 2Bs, 3 HRs, and 26 RBI while going 8-11 with a 4.88 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. Ashton Davis and Kylie Summers were 2nd-team All-SAC selections while Allie Prewitt won the conference's gold glove award at catcher. The Lady Rams excelled in the classroom, earning SAC Scholar-Team accolades with a 3.18 team GPA. The team featured nine Academic All-SAC selections and six SAC Scholar-Athletes.
On February 25, 2020, Gower reached the 400-win milestone with a 10-2 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against Southwestern Christian at Sycamore Park.
In January, 2022 Gower coached her first international games when she guided a U18 Team USA squad in the Dominican Republic.
During her tenure, she has coached 61 All-Conference players, five Conference Players of the Year, 10 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, one Conference Freshman of the Year, and three All-Americans. She has recorded two conference championships (2010 and 2012) and made one appearance at the NAIA National Championship Opening Round (2012). In addition, her 2006 team cracked a then NAIA record 66 home runs.
Gower was a member of the 2002 and 2003 Texas Wesleyan softball teams for whom she was the starting shortstop. She also received the team's 3-D Award in her senior season. Following her senior year, she served as an assistant coach for one season.
Prior to joining the Wesleyan softball team, Gower was a two-year letter winner at Vernon Regional Junior College where she was selected to the Region V All-Star team and was a captain in her sophomore season.
Gower is a graduate of Aledo High School where she was named 1st-team All-District in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons. She was also an All-Parker County selection in her junior season and was named District MVP in her senior season.
Gower currently resides in Burleson.
Shannon Gower at Texas Wesleyan
2021 - 17-22 (15-17 SAC)
Gower guided the Lady Rams to 17 wins while still navigating the COVID-19 landscape. The team went 15-17 in Sooner Athletic Conference play and was the fifth seed in the SAC Tournament. Three Lady Rams were named All-Conference including Brynna Foster who was named both 1st-team All-SAC and SAC Freshman of the Year becoming the first Lady Ram to win such an award. Foster batted .371 with 11 2Bs, 3 HRs, and 26 RBI while going 8-11 with a 4.88 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 86 innings pitched. Ashton Davis and Kylie Summers were 2nd-team All-SAC selections while Allie Prewitt won the conference's gold glove award at catcher. The Lady Rams excelled in the classroom, earning SAC Scholar-Team accolades with a 3.18 team GPA. The team featured nine Academic All-SAC selections and six SAC Scholar-Athletes.
2020 - 6-16 (1-3 SAC)
The 2020 season will be remembered across the sports landscape as a season of what might have been. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the action in March after only 22 games cutting the season short for a Texas Wesleyan team that featured five seniors. On February 25, in the second game of a doubleheader at Sycamore Park, the Gower guided the Lady Rams to a 10-2 win over Southwestern Christian, marking the 400th victory of her career. Four Lady Rams were named All-SAC. Jenna Rhoades and Payton Davidson were 1st-team selections. Bridgette Krippel was named to the 2nd-team and Talor Tubbs was an honorable mention pick. Six Lady Rams were named SAC Scholar-Athlete while 12 earned Academic All-SAC recognition.
2019 - 26-27 (19-15 SAC)
A record-breaking season ended with a 26-27 overall record and a 19-15 mark that was good for fifth in the SAC standings. The team nearly snapped No. 1 USAO's NAIA record winning streak, falling in a doubleheader at Chickasha 4-1 and 1-0 in eight innings. Bailey Terry wrapped up an outstanding career by setting Texas Wesleyan's career home run (39) and RBI (201) records as well as single season records for RBI (72 in 2018), total bases (142 in 2018) and assists (139 in 2017). Terry was named was named 1st-team All-SAC alongside Lacy Mann, while Taylor Sutton, Kylie Summers and Makenna Aycock were 2nd-team selections. Emilia Egel was named NAIA Scholar-Athlete.
2018 - 42-17 (24-8 SAC)
The Rams had an impressive and historic season that included 17 tied or broken individual and team school records. One of those records was most wins in a single season (42). Bailey Terry was named 1st-team NAIA All-American after breaking the single season RBI record (72) and the career RBI record (153), while Kayla Prachyl single season putouts record (387) and the career stolen base record (90). The teams boasted six all-conference players.
2017 - 30-20 (16-12 SAC)
The Rams went 2-1 in the SAC tournament, losing to eventual NAIA Champion Oklahoma City. Kayla Prachyl became just the third player in program history to receive All-America honors with a second-team distinction. The team notched five all-conference players, seven academic all-conference athletes, and 14 SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll recipients.
2016 - 29-27 (18-10 SAC)
The Rams went 18-10 in conference play and advanced to the SAC Championship game after defeating No. 1 ranked (and eventual NAIA National Champion) Oklahoma City 3-2 in Oklahoma City. The Rams then pushed No. 3 St. Gregory's to the limit before falling 4-3 in the championship game. The team featured seven all-conference players including 1st-team selections Kayla Prachyl and Bailey Terry, who were also named NFCA All-Region. Eight Lady Rams were named to the SAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, while four were named Academic All-Conference.
2015 - 17-28 (8-17 SAC)
The Rams featured three All-Sooner Athletic Conference selections including Amber Marlett who was named to the 1st-team for the second straight year. In addition, both Marlett and Amber Tucker were named NIAA Scholar-Athletes.
2014 - 24-26 (15-17 SAC)
The team produced its fifth consecutive season with at least 20 wins at 24-26. The team featured four All-Conference selections in their first tour through the Sooner Athletic Conference.
2013 - 30-16 (21-3 RRAC)
Gower collected her 200th win as head coach and led the Lady Rams to a second place finish in the Red River Athletic Conference standings. The Lady Rams finished the 2013 campaign with an overall record of 30-16 and 21-3 in conference action.
2012 - 25-20 (20-4 RRAC)
In 2012, Gower led the Lady Rams to a their most successful season in nearly three decades. The Lady Rams claimed their second Red River Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the opening round of the NAIA Softball National Championship. The national tournement appearance marked the first for the Lady Rams since 1984. Alexis Beltran was named RRAC Newcomer of the Year and Raven Moreno was named RRAC Defensive Player of the Year.
2011 - 25-29 (13-8 RRAC)
Gower led the Lady Rams to a third place finish in the RRAC Standings with a conference record of 13-8 and an overall record of 25-29.
2010 - 33-15 (22-4 RRAC)
Gower led the Lady Rams to their first Red River Athletic Conference Championship and fifth conference title overall. The Lady Rams posted a 33-15 record and took the RRAC Regular Season title with a 22-4 mark. The team finished just one win shy of the NAIA National Tournament. The team featured six All-Conference selections including Pitcher of the Year Ashley Oldham, two NAIA Scholar Athletes, and one All-American in junior center fielder Lateah Lucero.
2009 - 18-32 (9-11 RRAC)
In 2009, the team was led by RRAC Co-Player of the Year Haley Butler and five other All-Conference selections.
2008 - 19-31 (17-7 RRAC)
The Lady Rams went 17-7 in conference play, earning the third seed in the RRAC Tournament. The team featured three All-Conference and two All-Region performers.
2007 - 22-34 (12-12 RRAC)
In 2007, the Lady Rams started slow but rallied to post 22 wins and a 12-12 conference mark. The team featured a pair of All-RRAC and All-Region VI selections and an Academic All-American in Brooke McNabb.
2006 - 29-21 (16-8 RRAC)
The Lady Rams posted a 29-21 record. They were the 2nd-seed in the RRAC Tournament after going 16-8 in conference play. The Lady Rams broke numerous records, including their 66 home runs, which was an NAIA record at the time. In addition, Gower placed five players on the All-RRAC and All-Region VI teams. Marie Stone was named RRAC Co-Player of the Year.
2005 - 28-25 (12-12 RRAC)
In her first season as head coach, Gower led the Lady Rams to a 28-25 record, a four-game improvement over the 2004 campaign. The team was also .500 (12-12) in Red River Athletic Conference play for the first time since joining the conference. In addition, the Lady Rams reached the semifinals of the RRAC Tournament for the second consecutive season.
