Sylvia Kirk will join the Gardner-Webb softball coaching staff as the program's assistant and pitching coach for the 2026 season
Kirk joins the Runnin' Bulldogs following her most recent stint at the University of West Georgia, where she spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as both a graduate assistant and a pitching coach. Kirk helped to set up the Wolves program for its first Division I season this past spring, coaching a pair of Gulf South Conference Honorable Mention pitchers across the Wolves final seasons in Division II.
Prior to arriving at West Georgia, Kirk spent time on staff at both Polk State College and at Webber International University. While serving as both an assistant and pitching coach Polk State, Kirk coach a trio of All-Conference selections, as the program improved its overall win total between 2022, Kirk's first year, and her second season in 2023.
While serving as the program's pitching coach at Webber International in 2021 and 2022, Kirk helped lead the team to an NAIA World Series appearance, as well as Regional and Sun Conference Championships. Kirk helped ignite the Weber International pitching staff during her time with the program into one of the nation's best, as the Warriors finished with 15 shutouts for the season and a team 1.86 earned run average.
Kirk coached not only the Sun Conference Pitcher of the Year, but the Regional Pitcher of the Year and an All-American as well during her time with Webber International in Kayla Swinson. Under Kirk's guidance, Swinson posted a 20-5 record with a 0.71 ERA in 176.2 innings of action. Her earned run average ranked No. 1 in the NAIA in 28 appearances along with holding opposing batters to a .148 batting average and striking out 147 batters, both league bests.
While outside of coaching collegiate softball, Kirk has spent the last several years as a private pitching instructor. While providing individualized instruction to young athletes, Kirk has been able to develop talent seen across all levels, stretching from the NAIA and JUCO, all the way up through NCAA Division I, II and III.
Kirk entered coaching after a decorated collegiate career at Warner University. The native of Auburndale, Fla. was a Sun Conference First Team selection three times, won Sun Conference Pitcher of the Week on multiple occasions, and was awarded Warner's Female Athlete of the Year in 2018-19. Kirk put together a 33-13 record in the circle during her time at Warner, while posting a 2.26 earned run average.
