As daughters of a legendary coach, Tara, Erin, and Geri Ann Glasco have honored their father’s legacy through excellence in softball and service.
Gerald Dean Glasco Jr., born October 29, 1958, has established himself as one of the most accomplished coaches in collegiate softball.
The Illinois native began his coaching journey at Johnston City High School, where he created the Illinois Southern Force 18U ASA team that captured national attention by finishing in the Top 20 four times at the ASA Gold Nationals and winning the championship in 2004.
His success at the youth level earned him and his coaching staff the National Coaching Staff of the Year award from the NFCA.
Glasco transitioned to college coaching in 2009, serving as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Georgia from 2009 to 2014.
During his tenure, Georgia achieved a remarkable 282-92 cumulative record while dominating NCAA and SEC offensive categories and setting over 20 team records.
He then joined Texas A&M as associate head coach in 2014, helping the Aggies lead the SEC in home runs during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and advance to the Women’s College World Series in 2017.
In 2017, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette hired Glasco as head coach following the departure of the previous coach.
Over seven seasons, he compiled an impressive 300-88 record, securing five Sun Belt Conference regular-season titles and advancing to the NCAA Tournament each year.
His success at Louisiana led to his appointment as head coach at Texas Tech in 2024, where he has continued to excel, leading the Red Raiders to their first-ever Women’s College World Series appearance in 2025.
Softball Runs Deep In The Glasco Daughters
Tara Glasco Archibald: The Coaching Prodigy
Tara Glasco Archibald represents the eldest of Gerry Glasco’s three daughters and has followed directly in her father’s footsteps as a successful softball coach.
Born and raised in Johnston City, Illinois, Tara distinguished herself as both a player and scholar at Southern Illinois University from 2000-2003.
She helped the Salukis achieve their first-ever NCAA Tournament win in 2003 and advance to the school’s first Sweet 16 appearance.
Her academic excellence earned her four NCAA Scholar-Athlete Awards and the Missouri Valley Conference Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award in 2003.
After graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 2004, Tara briefly taught junior high language arts and third grade before transitioning into coaching.
She began her coaching career with the Southern Force Softball Organization from 2003 to 2011, where she developed over 50 high school athletes who earned college scholarships, including eight who became collegiate All-Americans.
Her teams achieved five Final Four appearances at the ASA 16U “A” Nationals, including a Runner-Up National Championship in 2007.
Tara’s collegiate coaching career began in earnest at Georgia from 2011 to 2014, where she worked alongside her father as an assistant coach focusing on pitchers.
During this period, she helped develop All-American pitchers Chelsea Wilkinson and Erin Arevalo, with Wilkinson improving her ERA from 3.71 to 2.10 and more than doubling her strikeout numbers under Tara’s guidance.
She called pitches for a no-hitter against NC State in the 2014 Regional Championship, showcasing her strategic acumen.
After a stint at Illinois State from 2017-2019 as pitching coach, Tara became head coach at Eastern Illinois University in August 2019.
Over five seasons, she transformed the Panthers program, compiling a 135-97 overall record and leading the team to unprecedented success.
Her achievements include a 40-17 record and Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title in 2024, earning her OVC Coach of the Year honors.
She guided Eastern Illinois to its first-ever NCAA Regional appearance in 2023 and consistently developed players who earned All-Conference and All-Region recognition.
In 2025, Tara made the remarkable decision to join her father’s coaching staff at Texas Tech as associate head coach and pitching coach.
This reunion has proven extraordinary, as the father-daughter coaching duo has led the Red Raiders to their first Women’s College World Series appearance.
Tara’s expertise with pitchers, including her work with Ni’Jaree Canady, one of the nation’s top pitchers, has been instrumental in Texas Tech’s historic success.
Erin Glasco Simons: The Accomplished Catcher
Erin Glasco Simons, the middle daughter, carved out her own distinguished path in softball as a talented catcher.
She played collegiately at Texas A&M University for two seasons, where she contributed to the Aggies’ remarkable run to the 2008 national championship game as runner-up.
Her performance behind the plate and leadership qualities made her an integral part of one of Texas A&M’s most successful softball seasons.
Following her playing career, Erin transitioned into coaching and education.
She served as a pitching coach and assistant softball coach at the University of North Texas, sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation of players.
Her coaching career also included a stint at Rockdale High School, where she continued to develop young athletes while pursuing her teaching career.
Erin’s professional journey has taken her through various educational institutions across Texas.
She has worked as a teacher in multiple school districts, including positions at Belton ISD, Travis Science Academy in Temple, Crockett Intermediate School in Paris ISD, and Van Alstyne Middle School.
Most recently, she joined the Elko County School District in August 2024, continuing her dedication to education while maintaining her connection to softball.
Her achievements earned her induction into Johnston City’s Hall of Fame, recognizing her contributions to both athletics and academics.
Erin’s commitment to excellence in multiple areas reflects the values instilled by her family’s dedication to softball and education.
Geri Ann Glasco: The Rising Star Whose Legacy Endures
Geri Ann Glasco, the youngest of the three daughters, possessed an extraordinary talent that promised a bright future in softball before her tragic death in 2019.
Born and raised in Johnston City through eighth grade, she moved with her family to Georgia, where she attended Okonee County High School and established herself as one of the nation’s premier high school softball players.
During her senior season at Okonee County, Geri Ann achieved remarkable statistics that placed her among the elite players in the country.
She led the Warriors to a 38-2 record while posting a 19-0 pitching record with a 0.50 ERA.
Her offensive prowess was equally impressive, batting .564 with 62 RBIs and setting a state single-season record with 24 home runs.
Her exceptional performance earned her the prestigious Gatorade Softball Player of the Year award in 2012, making her the first softball player from Georgia to receive this honor.
Geri Ann’s high school achievements included four First Team All-State selections and setting state career records for home runs (47) and doubles (58).
She struck out 213 batters in 113 innings, firing 13 shutouts and four no-hitters during her senior campaign.
These accomplishments placed her in the company of legendary athletes like Peyton Manning, Emmitt Smith, and Kobe Bryant as a Gatorade Player of the Year recipient.
Her collegiate career began at the University of Georgia, where she started all 61 games as a freshman and compiled a 17-8 record on the mound while maintaining a .233 opponent batting average.
She also excelled offensively with a team-high .743 slugging percentage.
After her sophomore year, Geri Ann transferred to the University of Oregon, where she completed her collegiate playing career and helped the Ducks reach the 2016 Women’s College World Series.
Following her playing career, Geri Ann began her coaching journey as a student assistant at Oregon in 2017 before joining her father’s staff at Louisiana-Lafayette as a volunteer assistant coach for the 2018-19 season.
Her coaching career, though brief, showed the same promise and dedication that characterized her playing days.
Beyond softball, Geri Ann demonstrated a commitment to community service and helping others.
While in Oregon, she worked at the Center for Autism and Related Disorders in Portland and accumulated over 300 volunteer hours through various community service activities, including Read Across America, Special Olympics, food pantry work, and environmental projects.
Tragically, Geri Ann’s life was cut short on January 24, 2019, when she was killed in a multi-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 in Lafayette, Louisiana.
She was just 24 years old and had recently begun her coaching career alongside her father.
The accident occurred when an 18-wheeler was unable to slow down in an active construction zone, creating a chain reaction that claimed two lives.
In response to this devastating loss, the Glasco family established the Glasco Family Fund through the Natasha Watley Foundation to aid and inspire young female coaches entering the softball community.
This fund ensures that Geri Ann’s passion for developing others continues to make a positive impact on the sport she loved.
Geri Ann’s memory continues to inspire her family and the broader softball community.
Her father and sister Tara have carried her legacy forward, with the number 12 – Geri Ann’s jersey number – serving as a meaningful reminder of her presence.
When Texas Tech received the number 12 seed in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, Tara told her father that it was a sign they would reach the Women’s College World Series, a prediction that proved prophetic.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Gerry Glasco has coached three different teams in the National Pro Fastpitch league to championship victories – the USSSA Pride (2014 and 2019) and the Scrap Yard Dawgs (2017) – all winning the NPF’s Cowles Cup championship.
- Glasco earned his bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign after attending Crab Orchard High School, where he lettered in both baseball and basketball.
- In addition to his head coaching position at Texas Tech, Glasco currently serves as head coach for the Smash It Sports Vipers in the Women’s Professional Fastpitch (WPF), which is an offspring league of the former NPF.
