Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University head softball coach Jamie Stanclift, along with Director of Athletics Joe Reich, has announced the promotion of Chaley Sims to Associate Head Coach. Sims has spent the last five years on the Wingate coaching staff as the assistant coach, helping the Bulldogs post back-to-back historic seasons.

"Chaley has been an integral part of our success and establishing our vision and culture for the Wingate Softball program over the last five years," Stanclift says. "I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to acknowledge her hard work, commitment, and loyalty. Chaley is very deserving of this opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to lead this program to new heights with her."

Sims has played an integral role in many facets of the program during her Bulldog tenure, helping Wingate become a regional and national power. The 'Dogs won a program-record 48 games in 2023, going 38-17 overall and 18-6 in the SAC to capture the first regular season title since 2009 while setting program records for homers and runs scored. Wingate followed that up with a new record 49 victories in 2024, going 22-2 in league play for a second straight regular season title.

The Bulldogs earned hosting duties at NCAA Regionals for the first time in program history in 2023, punching a ticket to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time ever. The 'Dogs followed by earning the number one seed in the 2024 regionals, the first-ever number one seed in program history. The Bulldogs were ranked in the NFCA top 25 all of 2024, climbing as high as #7.

Sims has played a key role in one of the most balanced programs in the nation, with the Bulldogs leading the SAC in ERA and fielding percentage and ranking second in the league in hits and runs scored. Wingate finished fourth in the nation in fielding percentage in 2024.

Sims served as the Wingate pitching coach for the first time in 2024. The Bulldogs had three pitchers earn All-SAC accolades, including first team selections Raechel Cutcher and Sydney Kale, along with second team honoree Hali Scott. All three went on to earn All-Region recognition from the NFCA and D2CCA. Wingate not only led the SAC in ERA, but had the top three pitchers in the league in ERA (Scott 1.73, Cutcher 1.75, Kale 2.12).

Sims has helped the Bulldogs pile up 97 victories over the last two seasons, the most-ever in a two-year stretch in program history. She has helped Stanclift pick up SAC Coach of the Year accolades in each of the last two seasons as the Bulldogs have spent the last two years hosting SAC Tournament games, a SAC championship series and back-to-back NCAA regionals.

Sims joined the Wingate University coaching staff as the Assistant Coach in the summer of 2019, after spending a year as the Graduate Assistant Coach at Baker University for Stanclift. Sims was a four-year letter-winner at Kansas University from 2012-2016. Following her playing career, she spent a season as a Student Assistant Coach and a year as the Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Jayhawks, serving as the Interim Assistant Coach in the summer of 2018 before taking the job at Baker. She also spent time serving as the Director of Operations at Kansas.

During her playing career at Kansas, Sims was a four-time all-conference selection, while earning NFCA All-Region accolades in each of her final three seasons. She earned first team All-Big 12 and All-Region honors as a sophomore and a senior at Kansas. Sims was named the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2015 and 2016. She holds the school record for slugging percentage, runs scored, RBI and walks. After her successful collegiate playing career, Sims was the 16th overall pick in the National Professional Fastpitch draft in 2016. She played a season with the Pennsylvania Rebellion, helping the team register its winningest season in program history.