Winthrop University

Winthrop University Athletics
Winthrop Coliseum - 1162 Eden Terrace Dr Rock Hill, SC 29733

Division 1 South Carolina Southeast

Public Small National competitor

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Coaches

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Kendall Fuller

Ext 6239

Kendall Fuller was named the head Winthrop softball coach in August of 2023.

Fuller returns to the Winthrop softball program after serving as head coach at Lees-McRae the last three seasons. This marks the second stint with the Eagle program as she spent five seasons on staff from 2013-18.

In her three seasons at the helm of the Lees-McRae program, Fuller led the Bobcats to a record-breaking season in 2023. The Bobcats posted an overall record of 32-18 and a runner-up finish in the regular season in Conference Carolinas play. The 32 wins are the most in a single-season in program history and the highest regular season finish ever (2nd place).

“Extremely excited to have Kendall back in the garnet and gold!” said Athletic Director Chuck Rey. “Kendall found great success as head coach at her last institution. That program thrived, she grew tremendously as a coach and was recognized with a Coach of the Year honor. More importantly, Kendall knows what it takes to win at Winthrop. She learned under one of the best in Mark Cooke, she is part of the Winthrop family, and the transition will not only be seamless, but catapult this program to the next level that much sooner.”

Fuller first came to Winthrop in 2013 when she joined the staff as an assistant coach. In the fall of 2014 she was elevated to Associate Head Coach and near the end of the 2015 promoted to Co-Head Coach along with Mark Cooke.

Fuller was named the 2023 Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year, along with three All-Conference Carolinas selections including Freshman of the Year honors for West Virginia native, Grayson Buckner.

Over the course of three seasons with the Bobcats, Fuller coached 65 NFCA/Easton All-America Scholar Athletes. In 2022, the team earned a Top Ten award for the Easton/NFCA Top Academic Teams with a GPA of 3.73, ranking sixth among all NCAA DII institutions. In addition to leading the Bobcats to exceptional academic performances, Fuller’s team was also awarded the prestigious Conference Carolinas All-Sportsmanship Award at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

In her first stint with the Eagles, Fuller was the hitting coach. Prior to her arrival the team batted .241 with 142 runs, 26 home runs and 138 walks in 2012. In her first season the Eagles batted .260 with 260 runs, 64 home runs and 186 walks. The 64 home runs were a program record and the 260 runs were the 6th most all-time. The 186 walks are also a program record. In addition to the walks record, the 2015 team had 174 (3rd all-time), the 2016 team had 149 (10th all-time), and the 2017 team finished with 172 (4th all-time). From 2013-17 the Eagles finished ranked in the program’s all-time Top 10 for home runs three times (2013, 2014, 2015) and 11th place in 2017. The teams also finished among the Top 10 in on-base percentage with the 2017 squad ranked 3rd (.352), 2013 ranked 4th (.351), 2014 ranked 9th (.333) and 2016 ranked 10th (.323).

The Eagles reached the Big South Conference title game in 2013. In her five seasons with Winthrop (2013-17) the program tallied 14 All-Big South Conference players in five seasons, the Freshman of the Year in 2014, the highest-ever team semester GPA, multiple NFCA Scholar-Athletes and brought in the highest academic class ever for the softball program. Her roles also included being the third base and outfield coach, travel coordination and serving as a tournament and camp director.

Prior to her arrival at Winthrop, Fuller served as an assistant coach at Western Carolina for two years. Fuller returned to Western Carolina University in 2018 as an assistant coach, where her responsibilities included being the first base and outfield coach, assisting in recruiting through her NCAA Division I certification and practice planning, as well as serving as an academic liaison for the student-athletes through developing academic success plans that resulted in five National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Academic All-Americans.

In addition to her NCAA Division I coaching experience, Fuller has also served as the Softball Sports Director for the College Coaches Skills Camp in Sylva, N.C. and as an adjunct lecturer in the Biology department at Western Carolina University.

A former resident of the High Country, Fuller returns to the mountains after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Appalachian State University. She later obtained her Master’s Degree in Biology from Western Carolina University.

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Morgan Wyatt

Assistant Softball Coach

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Ansley Gilstrap

Ansley Gilstrap joined the Winthrop softball staff in January of 2022 as an assistant coach following her playing career at Clemson.

Gilstrap, a Blythewood, S.C. native, finished her career with the Tigers after the 2021 season and completing graduate school. She earned a master's degree in athletic leadership after finishing her undergraduate studies in health science in December of 2019. In 2021 she was named 3rd Team All-ACC as well as being named an All-ACC Academic selection. She started all 51 games she appeared in at shortstop, finishing with a .292 average, 43 runs, six doubles, four home runs, 21 RBI. She missed the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season with an injury and had redshirted the season prior to the inaugural season of Clemson softball.

Gilstrap began her collegiate career at USC Upstate where she enjoyed a decorated career. She was a two-time ASUN All-Conference Team selection and the 2017 ASUN Tournament MVP. As a freshman she played a key role in the Spartans win the ASUN Tournament Title, earning an NCAA Regional bid.