PITTSBURG — Pittsburg State University Vice President of Athletics Anthony Crespino announced today (June 8) that Beau Schultz, who has served as Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities the past three years for the Gorillas, has been tabbed to assume the head coach role for the Pitt State softball program.

Schultz will replace Josh Barnes who has elected to leave the school to pursue other interests. Barnes fashioned an 86-27 (.761) record the past two seasons (2025-26) with back-to-back NCAA Division II National Tournament appearances, including a 48-11 mark this past spring when the Gorillas rose as high as No. 2 in the D2 National Top 25 poll.

Schultz, a former PSU assistant baseball coach and former Gorillas player, returned to campus in June 2023 to join the PSU Athletics Administration team. In addition to his facilities and operations duties, Schultz handled the sport administrator role for the PSU baseball program the past three years and the Gorillas softball program for two seasons (2023, 2024). He also has led PSU's campus Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) activities the past three years.

Prior to his PSU tenure, he served the previous five years as a physical education teacher and head baseball coach at Neodesha High School (2019-23). Schultz also spent seven years as head baseball coach at Independence Community College, from 2012-18, after serving as an assistant coach at his alma mater under former head coach Steve Bever between 2007-11.

"Beau embodies many of the qualities we value at Pitt State," Crespino said. "As a former Gorilla student-athlete and longtime member of our athletics staff, he understands this university, our culture, and what it means to wear the Gorilla logo.
 
"He's a relationship builder, a relentless worker, and someone who has earned the respect of our student-athletes, coaches and staff through the way he leads every day. Through his leadership of FCA and his work within our department, Beau has consistently demonstrated an ability to connect with people, develop young leaders, and positively impact those around him.
 
"I have a tremendous amount of confidence in Beau's ability to lead this program. He understands the game, he understands people, and he understands Pitt State."
 
An Independence, Kan., native, Schultz was a three-time All-MIAA catcher for the Gorillas from 2003-05. He was a first-team All-Central Region and an honorable mention NCAA Division II All-America selection from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA).
 
He earned a bachelor's in education degree from PSU in physical education in May 2005. Beau and his wife, Kelly, have an adult daughter, Taylie Songer, and a son, Bryor, who recently completed his sophomore year at Girard High School.
 
"Pitt State is a special place because of its people," Schultz said. "My goal is to build a culture centered on relationships, accountability, and development.

"We want our student-athletes to leave this program better than they found it, both on and off the field. If we do that, we'll build a team that competes the right way, represents this university with pride, and continues to make Gorilla Nation proud.

"I'm honored for the opportunity and excited to get to work."