COMING BACK HOME: Gwin rejoining Lady Raiders softball bench

Editor's note: This is the first of two stories on new assistant coaches for the Three Rivers College softball team. Watch next week's Daily American Republic and semoball.com for a story on Megan Shaddix, the Lady Raiders' other new assistant softball coach.

Returning to the bench for the Three Rivers College softball team is coming full circle in more ways than one for Jason Gwin.

Not only was Gwin a member of the coaching staff of the 2021 NJCAA World Series team and on several other great Lady Raiders' teams in recent years, but he also played baseball for the Raiders back 25 years ago.

“It feels great being back home,” Gwin said.

Three Rivers head coach and athletic director Jeff Null is excited to have Gwin back on the Lady Raiders' bench ahead of next month's season opener.

“He has helped us out in the past,” Null said. “He's been a big part of our national tournament runs and he's worked as a hitting (instructor) as well for us. He takes a lot of pride in working with our kids and he wants to get back to the national tournament.

“He wants (us) to be ranked nationally as a team in batting average. He's got all these goals himself and, and it helps push our kids and our program — and we just like having people around like that.”

Gwin echoes Null's sentiments.

“When Coach Null reached out back in 2016, I was so excited to help and learn,” Gwin said. “He’s definitely one of the best in-game strategy coaches and knows his players. It’s been a joy and an honor to get to work with him and pick his brain. We both have the same hitting philosophy.”

Gwin was a standout catcher for the Raiders baseball team, batting over .300 during the 2000 season — then helped the Lady Raiders become one of the top hitting teams in the nation during his stint as an assistant coach, in addition to working with the team's catchers and recruiting.

After leaving the Lady Raiders bench, he opened up Gwin's Golden Prime Sports Academy, where he works with the baseball and softball prospects of today and the future. He also has enjoyed coaching his two grade-school age children in recent years.

But Gwin is also glad to come back and help his alma mater.

“Being back is a blast,” Gwin said. “I enjoy everything about it. I feel like I bring a lot of energy and positivity to the team, as well as trying to help them build a good work ethic and still have fun.”

Gwin has one very big, but very simple goal for the upcoming season.

“My goal is nothing less than winning a regional title, going back to the NJCAA World Series — and winning it,” Gwin said.