Doug Chance begins his 18th season at the helm of Butler softball totaling a 724-173 overall record and has has guided the Grizzlies to 11 NJCAA National Tournament appearances – including back-to-back national championships in 2016 and 2017.

Coming off a canceled season in 2020, Doug Chance and the Butler softball program had unfinished business and put together a record setting season and a fifth place NJCAA National Tournament finish. The Grizzlies finished the season with an overall record of 51-4. They won their 10th consecutive KJCCC Championship, fifth straight Region VI Title and made the National Tournament for the 11th time in school history. The Grizzlies had a 47-game win streak during the season. The Grizzlies had five players selected as NJCAA All-Americans, three NFCA All-Americans and 11 All-KJCCC players. Doug Chance was selected as KJCCC 'Coach of the Year' for the 12th time during his tenure and Madi Young won the NFCA 'Golden Shoe' award. Butler was first in the NJCAA in doubles (149) and On-base % (.500). They finished second in the NJCAA in batting average (.433), runs (634), RBI's (583) and runs against (121). Butler was ranked as high No. 2 during the season.

The 2020 season is one to be forgotten as the entire country shut down and canceled sports seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Grizzlies were 13-7 overall and 3-1 in KJCCC play when the season came to a swift halt. The wins and losses, along with player stats from the 2020 season WILL count for program and overall records. See what all is counted HERE. There were no post season awards granted to spring sports.

In 2019, Chance led the Grizzlies to their fourth straight NJCAA Tournament, marking the second time in program history that Butler has made four consecutive tourneys. Butler has reached the NJCAA Final Four in four of the past seven seasons.

With a dominating .799 winning percentage as head coach, Chance is the winningest coach in Grizzly program history, amassing a 673-169 record. Under Chance, the Grizzlies have collected 12 Jayhawk Conference titles, 10 Region VI titles, five top-10 finishes, a 2018 NJCAA third-place tourney finish and a 2013 NJCAA final four appearance. In the last 12 seasons, Butler has been ranked no lower than 17th in the NJCAA poll – including a No. 1 ranking in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018.

In his 17 seasons at Butler, Chance has coached 31 All-Americans (both NJCAA and NFCA), 137 Jayhawk Conference selections and received the KJCCC Coach of the Year 12 times. (no players awarded in 2020 due to COVID-19)

Chance won his 700th game on April 6, 2021 vs. Labette (13-3). Chance won his 600th game on April 15, 2018 vs. Dodge City.

Chance's commitment to the players and their future, however, is his greatest accomplishment. Chance utilizes his experience and contacts with major softball programs to give players every opportunity to play at the next level – evidenced by the fact that over 100 former Butler players have signed with NCAA programs, 70 of those in Division I programs. Since coming to Butler, Chance has had more players sign Division I than all of the other 20 Kansas community college programs combined.

During the 2017 national title run, Chance led the Grizzlies to set school records in nearly every category, including conference wins in a season (24), overall wins in a season (58), most consecutive wins (88, 2016-17), fewest losses in a season (1), team batting average (.417), highest national ranking (No. 1 in 2013, 2014 and 2017), home runs in a season (135), which also still stands as a Region VI record and lowest team ERA (1.20). In addition, the Grizzlies led the nation in home runs in four seasons (2005-2007, 2017).

Chance also cares about how his players perform in the classroom. Butler softball has led the Jayhawk Conference in GPA four times (2008, 2009, 2012 and 2013). In 2019, Butler finished third among all NJCAA softball programs with a 3.67 GPA and had 10 players receive academic honors. Among the two-year level, Butler was second in the NFCA and had 14 players named Easton/NFCA All-America Student-Athlete honors for having a 3.5 GPA or higher. During the 2013 season, Butler had a team GPA of 3.33 and had four players earn Academic All-American honors, including two players (Mac Millspaugh and Alex Millspaugh) who earned the Pinnacle Award for Academic Excellence for finishing their careers with perfect 4.0 grade point averages.

A native of Wichita, Kan., Chance comes to Butler from Wichita East High School where he served as head coach of the Aces in 2004. Prior to coaching at East High, Chance served as assistant coach at Wichita State University in 2002, and as assistant coach at Friends University from 1998-2001. He also coached six years of summer softball which includes one State Championship (2002) and two USSSA World Series Championships (2002 & 2004).

Doug played men's fast pitch softball from 1986 to 2003, and played in two district tournaments, twelve state tournaments, and three regional tournaments during that time.

From 1991 to 1998, Chance coached six semi-pro baseball teams to berths in the National Baseball Congress World Series. He helped the Wichita Sluggers record a third place finish in the NBC World Series in 1996. He also played in six MSBL World Series.

Chance earned a Bachelor's of Ministry from Christian Leadership University. Doug and wife, Suzanne, are parents of a son and two daughters.

*The 2020 season was canceled due to COVID-19. All wins and losses COUNT for overall records. Learn more HERE*

UPDATED: JUNE 15, 2021