Broncbusters name Hendrix new softball coach
Garden City, KS-On Friday, the Garden City Community College athletic department announced the hiring of Belinda Hendrix as its next head softball coach.
"I am extremely excited to join the Broncbuster family and am incredibly grateful for this opportunity," Hendrix said.
Hendrix replaces interim coach, Andy Lewton, who took over after Amy Schmeckpeper left in the fall to take the head coaching position at the University of Mary.
"There aren't many coaches at any level that have the resume that Coach Hendrix does," Director of Athletics, Mike Pilosof said in a statement. "She is a winner on and off the field, and we are so fortunate to land a coach of her caliber."
Hendrix joins the Broncbusters after spending the 2023-24 season at Southeast Arkansas College. Prior to that, she worked one season at East Tennessee State University.
"It is an honor to be part of such a prestigious institution, and I am eager to help build a culture of champions both on and off the field," Hendrix added.
Hendrix, who spent 17 seasons as the Head Coach at Chipola College in Florida, has already built a Hall-of-Fame worthy resume. She compiled 785 wins, including three national championships (2007, 2015, 2019). She was named the NJCAA Coach of the Year three times (2007, 2015, 2019) and was honored as the Panhandle Conference Coach of the Year 10 times. Her teams participated in the national tournament on eight different occasions.
"I am determined to make the college and community proud and cannot wait to get started," Hendrix said.
Hendrix has coached 50 NJCAA All-Americans and two NJCAA Pitchers of the Year. She also produced nine Panhandle Conference players of the Year and 10 Panhandle Conference Pitchers of the Year. More impressively though, she had a 90-percent graduation rate during her time at Chipola.
"Coach Hendrix has proven to be a winner both on and off the field," Pilosof explained. "The results are there. In Junior College, it's about graduating student-athletes and moving them on to a four-year school. It's about building relationships and a winning culture. Coach Hendrix epitomizes both of those concepts."
Hendrix played collegiately at Thomas University in Thomasville, GA before earning her psychology degree from Troy University. She then began her coaching career at Vernon High School, where she won 56 games over three seasons including a pair of district titles.
Joining Hendrix is her husband Jimmy, who will serve as the assistant coach. Prior to Garden City, he was the Associate Head Coach at Chipola.
The Hendrix's have two children: Madyson (23) and Jade (20).