Giselle Bahena (Class of 2021 and 2023) returned to the Hiram Softball program as the 19th head coach in program history on June 2, 2025. The former First Team All-American spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach at Case Western Reserve University following a historic six-year playing career at Hiram College.
During her two seasons as an assistant coach in 2024 and 2025, Bahena lifted the Spartans to the finals of the NCAA Tournament and their first ever 40-win season, as well as another tourney berth this past spring. Her role included extensive work with the infielders, catchers and all aspects of the team's offense.
From 2018 to 2023, Bahena put together one of the most decorated careers by a female student-athlete in Hiram College history. She spearheaded the Terriers to consecutive NCAC Tournament Championships in 2022 and 2023 before guiding the team to its first-ever Super Regional appearance at the end of her sixth and final collegiate season.
Bahena finished her playing career with program records in hits (224) and runs scored (130), while also racking up First Team All-America in 2022. Between her final two seasons with the Terriers, she earned two All-Region selections, two All-NCAC First Team honors and the NCAC Player of the Year Award.
Bahena was also one of Hiram's most successful students in the classroom, becoming the softball program's first ever College Sports Communicators (formerly CoSIDA) First Team Academic All-America selection. She was a four-time NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete and a two-time NCAC Scholar-Athlete award winner, exceeding every GPA requirement while posting some of the best numbers the school has ever seen.
Bahena earned two degrees from Hiram College, including a bachelor's degree in biology in 2021 and a master's degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2023. Her graduate studies included a focus on mental health and its impact on collegiate athletics.
