Softball
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Email:
- brentvigness@creighton.edu
- Phone:
- (402) 280-2949
The winningest coach in Creighton athletics history, Brent Vigness enters his 29th season at the helm of the Bluejays. He owns 804 victories during 28 seasons in Omaha. Overall, the central Iowa native boasts 952 career wins in 33 years.
En route to a runner-up finish in the 2018 BIG EAST Championship, Vigness earned his 900th career victory with a 5-4 win at home against Georgetown on April 28, 2018.
Vigness claimed his 700th win at Creighton with a 3-2 victory over South Dakota State on March 10, 2016.
After 20 seasons in the Missouri Valley Conference, Vigness led Creighton into its inaugural BIG EAST campaign in 2014. The Bluejays advanced to the semifinals of the BIG EAST Championship. Fittingly, Vigness reached the 800-win career mark in conjunction with the program’s first BIG EAST victory at Butler on March 22, 2014.
A four-time MVC?Coach of the Year, he led the Bluejays to seven MVC?regular-season titles (1998-2000, 2007-09, 2013), six Valley?tournament titles (1999, 2003-05, 2007, 2010) and seven NCAA?regional appearances (1999, 2003-05, 2007-08, 2010). He claimed MVC Coach of the Year honors in 1998 and guided the MVC Coaching Staffs of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2013.
Vigness coached his 1,000th game at Creighton and recorded his 600th win at CU in 2012. He earned victory No. 600 at Creighton on April 21 in a 4-3 win against Evansville. A year prior, Vigness became the winningest coach in Creighton athletics history. The Bluejays’ 9-3 win at Iowa State on March 31, 2011 marked his 565th victory at Creighton, moving Vigness past CU Hall of Fame softball coach Mary Higgins for the most wins by any head coach in school history. His 952 career victories ranks tied for 14th among active coaches in NCAA Division I softball.
The Bluejays captured more combined MVC regular-season and tournament titles than any other Valley program over their last 16 years in the MVC, with 12 titles in that span. In addition to the 2013 title, Vigness twice guided the Bluejays to three straight regular-season titles – from 1998 to 2000 and from 2007 to 2009.
From 1998-2013 the Bluejays captured seven regular-season Valley titles, won six MVC?tournament crowns and appeared in nine MVC?tournament championship games. The 2008 team set a school record with 21 conference victories, while the 2005 Creighton squad became just the second team in league history to win three consecutive tournament titles.
Year-By-Year Recap
The Bluejays finished the 2021 season with a 14-14 overall record, after having to cancel six of its final nine games because of COVID protocols. The Jays posted an 8-3 record at home, including six wins against BIG EAST opponents. Senior Ashley Cantu and sophomore Kailey Wilson each earned First Team All-BIG EAST and NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Second Team honors following the season.
Creighton posted 13 victories during the 2020 season shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bluejays set a program record with 24 runs against Toledo (Feb. 8), won five of six games from Feb. 15-28 and closed the year with a 2-1 win against Central Michigan in Madeira Beach, Florida (March 12).
Vigness led the Bluejays to 20 wins in 2019 as the team posted 20 or more wins during 24 of Vigness’ first 26 seasons in Omaha. Creighton had three women listed on the 2019 All-BIG EAST teams as Cantu made the First Team, while Laura Roecker and Kiara Mills earned spots on the Second Team.
During his 25th season at the helm of the Bluejays, Vigness guided his 2018 squad to a 28-15 record and an appearance in the BIG EAST Championship in Rosemont, Illinois for the first time since 2014. Three Bluejays earned All-BIG EAST recognition as Sam Crowley made the First Team, while Kiele Miller and Tash Coffiel made the Second Team. Crowley also earned CoSIDA Academic All-America status and NFCA All-Region honors. Creighton improved its win total by 10 from the previous year, the team’s best improvement since a 17-win jump between 2006 and 2007.
Vigness guided the Bluejays’ through their fourth season in the BIG EAST Conference (2017) with an 18-32 record. Creighton had three
All-BIG EAST selections, as freshman Sam Dellinger made the First Team, while senior Aujanae McCoy and Cantu made the Second Team.
He led Creighton to a 25-22 record during the 2016 season. Allie Reinhart earned her second consecutive All-BIG EAST Second Team selection, and joined Michelle Trulin on the Second Team, as the Bluejays had multiple outfielders named first or second-team all-conference for the first time since 2004.
Vigness directed the Bluejays to a 22-21 record in 2015, Creighton’s second season in the BIG EAST Conference. Senior Liz Dike led the Jays with a .418 batting average and earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors.
In 2014 the Bluejays finished fourth in their inaugural season as a member of the BIG EAST Conference. CU concluded the year with an overall record of 29-24 and a conference mark of 10-10. The Bluejays finished conference play strong by reeling off four consecutive victories to earn a bid to the BIG EAST Championship.
Senior Becca Changstrom finished her outstanding four-year career second all-time in starts (115), appearances (133) and complete games (93) in Creighton history. She also ranked third in wins (74), strikeouts (860) and innings pitched (766). Changstrom was a four-time all-conference selection, including a 2014 All-BIG EAST First Team selection.
The Bluejays surprised some in the MVC by winning the regular-season title in 2013 after being picked fourth in the preseason poll. Despite earning a No. 1 seed, Creighton fell 1-0 to UNI in the MVC tournament semifinals after a lead-off home run proved to be the difference. Senior Amy Baker’s record-setting year and Changstrom’s strong showing in the circle led the Bluejays to a 29-18 overall record and 15-7 conference mark. Baker ended her prolific four-year Bluejay career as the Creighton and MVC career leader in home runs (58) as well as RBI (167). Changstrom attained MVC Pitcher of the Year honors after claiming the pitching triple crown with 13 wins, 133 strikeouts and a 1.34 ERA during conference play. She also claimed All-MVC First Team, MVC All-Tournament Team and NFCA All-Midwest Region Second Team honors after posting a 22-9 overall record, a career-high 254 strikeouts and 1.70 ERA on the year.
In 2012 Creighton jumped out to its second-best start in school history by winning its first seven games before playing five contests against ranked opponents over an eight-game span. The Bluejays finished the MVC regular season in fifth at 15-11 and a final record of 28-25-1. A potent Bluejay offense scored at least 10 runs in a game 11 times and scored a school record of 294 runs. CU led the MVC with a .292 batting average, 56 homers, 275 RBI and a .464 slugging percentage. Alexis Cantu led the MVC with 17 homers, 46 walks, a .547 on-base percentage and a .802 slugging percentage. She set league records with 13 homers and 34 RBI during conference action.
After the loss of two Easton All-Americans in 2010 -- seniors Tara Oltman and Renae Sinkler -- 2011 was a rebuilding year for Creighton. The Bluejays returned just three starters and added 11 freshmen to the roster. The team finished in sixth place at 12-12 in the MVC and posted a 25-28 overall record. Baker hit a league-leading 18 homers and paced the team with 33 RBI. Ellen Homan became the first freshman to lead Creighton in hitting since 1989 with 52 hits, 15 multi-hit games, 25 runs scored and a .308 average.
The 2010 Bluejays overcame a 2-5 MVC?start to finish 18-7 in league play and sweep through the MVC?Tournament for their sixth Valley postseason crown under Vigness. Led by two-time MVC?Player of the Year and NFCA All-American Sinkler’s school and MVC?record 24 home runs, the team set a school record with 66 homers. Three-time Easton All-American pitcher Oltman ended her record-setting career by becoming the first student-athlete in school history to earn first-team all-conference honors four times. She also set a single-season school record with 32 wins. Vigness logged career win No. 700 in a victory over Southern?Illinois on May 14 during the Bluejays’ 2010 MVC?tournament title run. The Bluejays dropped a pair of 3-2 contests to host No. 8 Missouri and DePaul at the NCAA Regional in Columbia, Missouri, to end the season.
Creighton clinched its third consecutive regular-season title in 2009. The Bluejays finished at 35-16 overall and ranked ninth in the nation with a school-record .975 fielding percentage. Despite an impressive résumé, including being the first visiting team to shut out Arizona on its home field since 2005, and a no-hitter against nationally ranked Southern Illinois, the Bluejays were left out of the NCAA?Tournament after losing the MVC?Championship game. Oltman became the first three-time MVC Pitcher of the Year and the first NFCA?All-American under Vigness’ watch. Vigness captured his 500th Bluejay victory with a win over Bradley on April 4, 2009.
In 2008 the Bluejays posted their fourth 40-win season in a five-year span, finishing with a 43-17 overall mark and 21-3 Valley record to claim another regular-season crown. Creighton’s 19-2 home record in 2008 included an unblemished 12-0 mark in league play and marked the most home wins by the Bluejays since 1989.After earning an at-large NCAA bid, the Bluejays suffered a pair of 2-1 eight-inning losses to No. 18 Long Beach State and host Iowa at the NCAA Regional in Iowa City. Highlights included a win at two-time defending NCAA?champion No. 7 Arizona and Sinkler’s selection as USA?Softball’s National Player of the Week on April 14.
The 2007 Bluejays rebounded from a disappointing 2006 campaign by tearing through the MVC for their first regular-season title since 2000. Oltman and Amanda Hess anchored a staff that ranked No. 20 in the NCAA with a 1.76 ERA. The Bluejays dominated the MVC?Tournament, toppling nationally ranked Southern Illinois in the title game to capture their fourth postseason title and NCAA bid in a five-year span. Creighton eliminated NCAA Regional host Nebraska with a 2-1 victory in Lincoln before bowing out of the tournament.
Vigness led the Bluejays to three straight MVC Tournament titles and NCAA Regional appearances from 2003-05. He captured his first postseason NCAA?victory and the Jays’ first since 1989 with a 3-1 win over Florida International at the 2003 NCAA?Regional in Lincoln.
Vigness was tabbed the MVC?Coach of the Year in 1998, after capturing the first of three straight MVC?regular-season crowns with a 16-2 mark in Valley play. After claiming the 1999 MVC tournament title Vigness led Creighton to its first NCAA?tournament appearance in nine seasons as future Creighton Atheltics Hall of Fame player Heidi Geier earned Easton Second Team All-America honors. The following year Vigness coached CU to a share of the 2000 regular-season title.
Vigness arrived in Omaha after leading Division II Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts, to a 148-71-1 (.675) mark between 1989 and 1993. Vigness left as the winningest coach in Assumption College history. He guided the Lady Hounds to three consecutive 30-win seasons. The 37 victories posted by his 1990 Assumption College squad is the second-best single-season mark in school history. In 1992, Vigness became the youngest coach in the school’s history to amass 100 wins.
He was named the Northeast 10 Conference Coach of the Year in both 1989 and 1991 after leading the Lady Hounds to the league regular-season title. Vigness’ 1992 Assumption squad led all Division II teams in batting average - hitting an amazing .370 for the season. In his first season at Assumption of 1989 Vigness was hired as head softball coach, assistant women’s basketball coach and women’s athletic trainer before dropping the latter two positions to concentrate solely on softball.
From 1986 to 1988 Vigness served as a student assistant softball coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa, where he graduated in 1988 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and recreation.Central College reached the Division III national quarterfinals in each of Vigness’ three seasons there, finishing as the national runner-up in 1986 and national champion in 1988.
A two-year letterwinner in football at Central College, Vigness lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track at Nesco High School in Zearing, Iowa. As a senior, he was the captain of both the football and basketball teams and earned all-conference honors in both football and baseball. Vigness and his wife, Cris, have three sons: Brady, Boyd and Bryce.
Vigness’ Career Coaching Ledger
Assumption College, 1989-1993
Year Overall Pct. Conference Pct. Notes
1989 27-13 .675 12-4 .750 NE 10 Coach of the Year
1990 37-14 .725 14-4 .778
1991 34-15-1 .690 15-3 .833 NE 10 Coach of the Year
1992 31-16 .660 14-4 .778 Led nation with .370 batting average
1993 19-13 .594 9-9 .500
AC 148-71-1 .675 64-24 .727
Creighton University, 1994-Present
Year Overall Pct. Conference Pct. Notes
1994 24-31 .436 6-10 .375
1995 32-19 .627 9-9 .500
1996 17-24 .415 6-12 .333
1997 32-30 .516 10-4 .714
1998 33-15 .688 16-2 .889 MVC Coach of the Year, MVC Champions
1999 31-28 .525 11-3 .786 MVC regular-season & Tournament Champs
2000 34-22 .607 11-7 .611 Third straight regular-season MVC?title
2001 30-27 .526 16-10 .615 Fifth consecutive 30-win season
2002 28-28 .500 18-7 .720
2003 26-24 .520 14-12 .538 MVC?Tournament Champs, NCAA?Tourney
2004 44-17-1 .718 17-8 .680 MVC?Tournament Champs, 3-2 NCAA?Tourney
2005 44-13 .772 19-8 .704 MVC?Tournament Champs, Top 25 Ranking
2006 23-27 .460 10-13 .435
2007 40-14-1 .736 19-4-1 .813 MVC Staff of the Year, MVC Champions
2008 43-17 .716 21-3 .875 MVC?Staff of the Year, MVC?Champions
2009 35-16 .686 19-6 .760 MVC?regular-season champions
2010 37-23 .617 18-7 .720 MVC Tournament Champs, NCAA Tourney
2011 25-28 .472 12-12 .500 All-time winningest coach in CU?history
2012 28-25-1 .528 15-11 .577 1,000th game and 600th win at CU
2013 29-18 .617 15-7 .682 MVC Staff of the Year, MVC Champions
2014 29-24 .547 10-10 .500 First season in BIG EAST, Conference semis
2015 22-21 .512 7-12 .368
2016 25-22 .532 7-11 .389 700th win at CU
2017 18-32 .360 8-13 .380
2018 28-15 .651 12-3 .800 900th career victory, Conference Runner-up
2019 20-24 .455 8-13 .381
2020 13-12 .520 0-0 --- Season cut short because of COVID-19 pandemic
2021 14-14 .500 8-7 .533
CU 804-610-3 .567 342-224-1 .603
Career 952-681-4 .582 406-248-1 .620
