Joe Gierlak Promoted to Head Softball Coach

Canisius Vice President and Director of Athletics Bill Maher announced today (June 30) that Joe Gierlak has been promoted to the role of head coach for the Golden Griffin softball program.

Gierlak, who served as an assistant coach for Canisius in 2025, replaces former head coach Kim Griffin, who stepped down from her position at the University in May to pursue a career in mental health counseling. Gierlak will be the third head coach in the program's 45-year history.

"Joe worked closely with Kim Griffin this past year and he has a terrific reputation as a coach with an outstanding technical knowledge for the game of softball who quickly builds strong relationships with the student-athletes," Maher said. "This was evident in what we witnessed this past year, as well as in the feedback we received from the women on the team during our search process. Joe also understands and respects the history of our softball program. I am confident he will lead our program with the same competitiveness and professionalism that Canisius softball has long been known for."

"It is an absolute honor and privilege to be named the next head coach of the Canisius softball program," Gierlak said. "I look forward to leading this storied program and I will work tirelessly to continue the strong tradition that was built by Mike Rappl and carried on by Kim Griffin. Canisius University has an incredible reputation for preparing young people for success in life. I will uphold that reputation by continuing to develop confident and successful young women through the game of softball.

"I would like to thank Bill Maher for giving me this opportunity, and I also want to thank my family for all of their support in helping me realize my dream of becoming a head coach. I would also like to recognize all of the previous coaches I have worked for and student-athletes I have had the chance to work with. Without those people and their trust in me as a coach, I would not be the person I am today. I cannot wait to get started. Go Griffs!"

A long-time assistant coach at both the Division I and Division II levels, Gierlak served as Canisius' third-base coach and lead hitting instructor in 2025, a season where the Griffs ranked second in the MAAC in team batting average and runs scored. He also worked directly with the team's infielders and helped develop opponent scouting reports.

Prior to joining the Canisius staff, Gierlak spent three seasons (2022-24) as an assistant coach at the University at Buffalo. In his first two seasons with the Bulls, he worked with the team's catchers as well as the team's infielders and outfielders. In 2024, he was appointed Buffalo's pitching coach. In that role, he helped mentor two All-MAC pitchers and called pitches for Alexis Lucyshyn's no-hitter against Winthrop on March 8, the sixth no-hitter in Buffalo softball program history. In addition to his on-field coaching responsibilities, Gierlak helped develop team scouting reports using the Synergy and 6-4-3 Charts software programs.

Gierlak got his start in collegiate softball coaching at Edinboro University, where he worked as an assistant coach under the direction of his father, Dan, who recently completed his 33rd season as the Fighting Scots' head coach. At Edinboro, he held multiple roles on staff, including serving as the team's third base coach, hitting coach and outfield coach, while also assisting with the day-to-day operations of the program. Following the 2021 season, he left Edinboro and joined the coaching staff at Mercyhurst, where he held the role of hitting coach for the Lakers for one season.

A former Division II baseball player at Clarion University, Gierlak earned his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies with a concentration in sports management from Edinboro.

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