FARMINGTON, Utah (July 17, 2025) - The Big Sky Conference has hired Glenda Bates as its Coordinator of Softball Officials, the league office announced today. Bates brings almost 30 years of experience to the position, as she has umpired in multiple NCAA Division I and Division II tournaments and has also had the privilege of umpiring in a pair of Division II National Championships from behind the plate.
Bates' duties will include hiring, training, and evaluating officials that work all Big Sky home softball games. Additional duties include overseeing game evaluators, creating regular educational and training content, and running the annual officiating clinics.
“I am excited to be the new Coordinator of Softball Officials for the Big Sky Conference,” Bates said. “I wish to thank Tom Wistrcill, Dan Satter and Jon Kasper for this opportunity. It is evident that they are dedicated to the successes of the conference and I am looking forward to our partnership. I am eager to make some positive changes to our umpiring plans and I am confident to move forward in elevating relationships with the umpires, coaches and student-athletes. My ultimate goal is the continued development of a high-quality officiating program and to enhance a positive student-athlete experience.”
In addition to her experience officiating at the collegiate level, Bates has also served in multiple leadership capacities. Bates is the current NCAA Division III National Coordinator of Umpires and continues to hold the position of softball coordinator for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). Additionally, she values her work for the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), where she is a trainer, an assignor and evaluator. From 2009-2015, she served as the President of the Colorado High School Softball Association.
Bates also holds experience at the national level as a USA Softball umpire, a role that she began in 1989. From 2008-2018, she worked with USA Softball to assist in training, evaluating, scheduling and coordinating umpires for the organization. Further, she has also experienced the international stage as an umpire for the International Softball Federation (ISF) and the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC).
Bates retired from the educational realm in 2023, after serving as a teacher, administrator, and athletic director for 36 years.
Bates has worked closely with Jim Adrian, the former coordinator of softball officials for the Big Sky, the past two years in the lead up to his retirement. Adrian was hired as the league's first coordinator of softball officials prior to the 2019 season.
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