Kim Sowder Announces Retirement Following 19 Years As Long Beach State Softball Head Coach
5/21/2025 9:00:00 AM | Softball
Sowder recorded over 500 wins at the Beach, winning nearly 70% of her conference games.
LONG BEACH, Calif. – Head Coach Kim Sowder has announced her retirement, effective this summer following 19 years at the helm of the Long Beach State Softball program.
With 579 career wins, Sowder ranks fourth all-time in total wins in Big West history and among the Top 50 coaches in NCAA Division I history. Her 279 wins in Big West conference play rank third all-time, trailing only her mentor Pete Manarino at Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton's Judi Garman, winning nearly 70% of Big West games.
A five-time Big West Coach of the Year, Sowder led Long Beach State to five Big West championships and nine NCAA tournament appearances, never finishing lower than fourth place in her 19 years at the Beach.
Under her leadership, Long Beach State student-athletes won two Big West Player of the Year, five Big West Pitcher of the Year awards, and eight Big West Freshman of the Year selections, along with 21 All-Region selections. The Beach also excelled in the classroom, posting a team GPA over 3.30 this year, and regularly earned community service recognition.
An outstanding student-athlete at the Beach, Sowder was an All-America shortstop, playing a major role in leading Long Beach State to three straight Women's College World Series appearances to finish her career, including a fourth-place finish in 1991, the highest ever for the program. She remains Long Beach State's career leader in stolen bases and ranks in the program's Top 10 in hits. Sowder was inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
Following a brief stint as an assistant coach at Pacific, Sowder returned to the Beach, joining Manarino's staff in 1996 and after 10 years as an assistant took over as the program's head coach in 2007.
"Over the course of four decades, Kim Sowder has been the heart and soul of Long Beach State Softball, first as a student-athlete and then coach, and her impact on our university, student-athletes, and the game of softball is immeasurable," said Executive Director of Athletics, Bobby Smitheran.
"Kim's commitment to excellence has been evident in every facet of her leadership. More than the wins and accolades, it's the way she has led with integrity, developed future leaders, celebrated academic achievement, and upheld the proud tradition of Beach Athletics that sets her apart. Her career has served as an example to her student-athletes that passion, commitment, and hard work can result in championship success on and off the field. We are grateful for her incredible legacy and wish her and husband Shawn the very best in this next chapter."
A national search will begin immediately. Since the program started in 1981, Long Beach State softball has had just four coaches in its tenure, with Manarino and Sowder combining to lead the program since 1984, 42 seasons in total. The Beach has made five Women's College World Series appearances, won 10 Big West titles and has advanced to the NCAA postseason on 26 occasions, averaging more than 30 wins per season throughout the 45-year history of the program.
A Message from Kim Sowder:
With 579 career wins, Sowder ranks fourth all-time in total wins in Big West history and among the Top 50 coaches in NCAA Division I history. Her 279 wins in Big West conference play rank third all-time, trailing only her mentor Pete Manarino at Long Beach State and Cal State Fullerton's Judi Garman, winning nearly 70% of Big West games.
A five-time Big West Coach of the Year, Sowder led Long Beach State to five Big West championships and nine NCAA tournament appearances, never finishing lower than fourth place in her 19 years at the Beach.
Under her leadership, Long Beach State student-athletes won two Big West Player of the Year, five Big West Pitcher of the Year awards, and eight Big West Freshman of the Year selections, along with 21 All-Region selections. The Beach also excelled in the classroom, posting a team GPA over 3.30 this year, and regularly earned community service recognition.
An outstanding student-athlete at the Beach, Sowder was an All-America shortstop, playing a major role in leading Long Beach State to three straight Women's College World Series appearances to finish her career, including a fourth-place finish in 1991, the highest ever for the program. She remains Long Beach State's career leader in stolen bases and ranks in the program's Top 10 in hits. Sowder was inducted into the Long Beach State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1998.
Following a brief stint as an assistant coach at Pacific, Sowder returned to the Beach, joining Manarino's staff in 1996 and after 10 years as an assistant took over as the program's head coach in 2007.
"Over the course of four decades, Kim Sowder has been the heart and soul of Long Beach State Softball, first as a student-athlete and then coach, and her impact on our university, student-athletes, and the game of softball is immeasurable," said Executive Director of Athletics, Bobby Smitheran.
"Kim's commitment to excellence has been evident in every facet of her leadership. More than the wins and accolades, it's the way she has led with integrity, developed future leaders, celebrated academic achievement, and upheld the proud tradition of Beach Athletics that sets her apart. Her career has served as an example to her student-athletes that passion, commitment, and hard work can result in championship success on and off the field. We are grateful for her incredible legacy and wish her and husband Shawn the very best in this next chapter."
A national search will begin immediately. Since the program started in 1981, Long Beach State softball has had just four coaches in its tenure, with Manarino and Sowder combining to lead the program since 1984, 42 seasons in total. The Beach has made five Women's College World Series appearances, won 10 Big West titles and has advanced to the NCAA postseason on 26 occasions, averaging more than 30 wins per season throughout the 45-year history of the program.
A Message from Kim Sowder:
I'm simply filled with pride and gratitude.
Playing and coaching at Long Beach State has truly been the gift of a lifetime. I want to express my deepest thanks to everyone who has given me these incredible opportunities and supported me throughout this joyous journey. My heart has always been all in with this program and University and it still is, just in a different role, as proud alum and supporter.
The relationships I've gained over the years have been the most special part of my journey, and I will continue to cherish them deeply. I've always believed it's the people who make Long Beach State such a special place.
To all the players I've had the honor to coach: Thank you for choosing the Beach, pouring your hearts into Long Beach State Softball and making it the special program that it is. Your pursuit of excellence and your resilience through victories and challenges have inspired me and taught me so much along the way. I look forward to being part of your lives in this next chapter.
To all the coaches that have served our program alongside me with everything you had, you have meant the world to me, and I'm forever indebted to you. It was always a team effort. I would especially like to thank my longtime assistant, Panita, whose unwavering loyalty, servant leadership, hard work, and love for our program is unparalleled.
To all my fellow coaches at the Beach. It has been an honor to be your teammate. I am so fortunate to have been inspired by your passion, integrity, loyalty and relentless pursuit of excellence on and off the field.
To all the staff and administrators who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes, thank you for being the team behind the team. Your efforts have never gone unnoticed, and you have been instrumental in our student athlete's successes.
Special thanks to our alumni and generous donors. Your generosity and unwavering support have helped elevate our program and enriched the experiences of our student athletes and coaches in countless ways.
From the bottom of my heart – thank you.
Kim
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