Bowling Green State University head softball coach Candace Fenton-Bockbrader has announced the additions of Erinn Gankosky and Jacob Jeffries to her staff.
“Both coaches fit the positive culture and coaching philosophy that is embodied within the BGSU softball program, bringing advanced knowledge and skills to the athletes, as well as endless support on and off the field,” Fenton-Bockbrader said.
Gankosky served as a the lead instructor and director of pitching for Total Sports Rossford for three years. Additionally, her background includes head-coaching stints at several high schools in her native Michigan, including Andover and Groves.
At Andover, Gankosky led the Barons to the first winning season in school history, and coached the team to back-to-back winning campaigns. Her lone season at Groves saw her lead the Falcons to the program’s first district title in 10 years.
Gankosky also has held a number of jobs in the corporate world, working with BIG Communications LLC, Leo Burnett and Milo Detroit.
A four-year softball letterwinner at Oakland University, Gankosky helped the Golden Grizzlies to a pair of Mid-Continent Conference titles and trips to the NCAA Championships, and she was a part of the first team in school history to win a game in the NCAA Regionals.
Gankosky was a four-time all-conference and all-district selection at Southfield Christian H.S, and earned first-team all-state accolades twice.
A 2005 graduate of Oakland University, she resides in Perrysburg.
“I am excited that coach Fenton gave me the opportunity to join a program that is led with the same philosophy and passion that I approach the game of softball with,” Gankosky said.
“It is an honor to joining a program that finished in the top of the MAC last season, and I look forward to being a part of a team that stays at the top and goes beyond.”
Jeffries joined the BGSU program after spending the last year as a volunteer assistant at Maryville University, where he was responsible for all aspects of the team’s travel in addition to his coaching duties.
He joined the Maryville staff after spending a year in a similar role at Jacksonville University. At JU, Jeffries worked defensively with the catchers and outfielders.
A catcher by trade from his playing days, he helped the Dolphins’ catching corps throw out better than 38% of would-be base stealers during the 2021 season, an increase of nearly 25% from the previous season.
Overall, Jacksonville posted a .964 fielding percentage, the team’s best since 2013.
While earning his undergraduate degree at the University of North Florida, Jeffries served as the student manager for the Osprey softball program for three years.
While there, he assisted with on-field drills and exercises, handled team equipment which included uniforms, softballs, protective nets, bats, and other equipment, compiled data on opponents and assisted in the completion of compliance paperwork.
He has also served as the coach of the Jacksonville Sharks in the Jacksonville Men’s Adult Baseball League and was a Southside Youth Athletic Association Baseball Coach as well.
Jeffries earned a Bachelor of Science degree in sport management from UNF in 2020, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
“I want to start by thanking coach Fenton for giving me this opportunity to be a Falcon,” Jeffries said.
“I am extremely excited to be a part of this program and the vision that coach Fenton has for it. I’m ready to give everything I’ve got to help develop this program not only successfully on the field, but off the field too.”
The Falcons finished the 2022 season with a 34-21 (.618) overall record and a 16-11 (.593) MAC ledger, good for fourth place in the 11-team league.
BGSU’s total of 34 victories was the program’s highest in a decade, and the Falcons’ overall and league-only winning percentages also were the best since 2012.
The Falcons qualified for the 2022 MAC Tournament and advanced all the way to the championship game.
Then, BG participated in national postseason play, heading to Fort Collins, Colorado, and winning two games in the National Invitational Softball Championship.
Those wins, over Stephen F. Austin and George Washington, were the first national postseason victories in BGSU softball history.
In the classroom, a school-record 13 Falcons were named to the Academic All-MAC Team, while 15 team members were named Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes for the 2021-22 academic year.
