Dec. 5, 2007

Wayne State University head softball coach Gary Bryce was one of six current and former coaches who will comprise the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Hall of Fame's Class of 2008.

DePaul head coach Eugene Lenti, Mississippi State head coach Jay Miller, Muskingum College head coach Donna Newberry and Wayne State head coach Gary Bryce will join former Oklahoma State head coach Sandy Fischer and former Cal State Northridge head coach Gary Torgeson in being inducted during the association's 25th anniversary convention next December on Marco Island, Fla.

In his first 26 seasons as head coach at Wayne State, Bryce has guided the Warriors to 850 victories, the seventh-most among active Division II coaches, and 20 national rankings. Last season, Bryce captained WSU to a 13th NCAA tournament appearance after claiming the program's 14th Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Those accomplishments earned him a second straight GLIAC Coach of the Year award to go along with seven previous honors. In addition to service with the GLIAC and NCAA, Bryce has served four terms as the NFCA Division II representative and six on the Division II all-America committee. He has also sat on the association's rules and officials and hall of fame committees.

WSU's first official game in the spring of 2008 will be his 1400th as WSU's head softball coach. Only three of his teams have ever finished at or below .500, and all have won at least 21 games in a season. Bryce has coached 16 All-America softball players, including current assistant coach Pat Kent.