# George Wares

George Wares is an American softball coach. In 39 years as the head coach of Central (IA) softball, (1985–present), he has won more games in NCAA DIII than any other coach with 1232. He has led the Dutch to 4 NCAA DIII softball national championships, the last in 2003.

## Coaching career

Wares became the head softball coach of the Central Dutch in 1985, becoming the 3rd coach in the programs history. In just his second year at the helm Wares piloted his team to an NCAA Runner-up finish in 1996. He has taken his team to the NCAA DIII softball college world series and astounding 12 times. In 1988 Wares won his first NCAA national title and would go on to win 3 more, his most recent in 2003.

## Head coaching record

Statistics overview :
| Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Central Dutch (American Rivers Conference) (1985–present) ||||||
| 1985 | Central (IA) | 19–14 | 7–5 | 4th | |
| 1986 | Central (IA) | 35–20–1 | 11–3 | T-1st | College World Series Runner-up |
| 1987 | Central (IA) | 33–10 | 11–3 | 2nd | College World Series |
| 1988 | Central (IA) | 35–10 | 11–4 | T-3rd | College World Series Champion |
| 1989 | Central (IA) | 36–11 | 12–4 | 2nd | College World Series |
| 1990 | Central (IA) | 32–15 | 14–2 | 1st | College World Series |
| 1991 | Central (IA) | 42–6 | 15–1 | 1st | College World Series Champion |
| 1992 | Central (IA) | 31–11 | 12–3 | T-2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 1993 | Central (IA) | 38–2 | 14–0 | 1st | College World Series Champion |
| 1994 | Central (IA) | 35–14 | 11–5 | T–3rd | College World Series |
| 1995 | Central (IA) | 35–13 | 13–3 | 2nd | College World Series |
| 1996 | Central (IA) | 39–15 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Regional |
| 1997 | Central (IA) | 35–12 | 11–3 | 2nd | College World Series |
| 1998 | Central (IA) | 30–15 | 14–4 | 2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 1999 | Central (IA) | 34–11–1 | 16–4 | 2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 2000 | Central (IA) | 40–10 | 17–3 | T-1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2001 | Central (IA) | 41–10 | 16–4 | 2nd | College World Series Runner-up |
| 2002 | Central (IA) | 36–5 | 16–2 | 1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2003 | Central (IA) | 41–5–1 | 14–2–1 | 1st | College World Series Champion |
| 2004 | Central (IA) | 35–9 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2005 | Central (IA) | 28–12 | 12–4 | 3rd | |
| 2006 | Central (IA) | 33–13 | 12–4 | 3rd | NCAA Regional |
| 2007 | Central (IA) | 27–13 | 9–7 | 5th | |
| 2008 | Central (IA) | 24–16 | 8–8 | 5th | |
| 2009 | Central (IA) | 36–8 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2010 | Central (IA) | 30–14 | 12–4 | 3rd | NCAA Regional |
| 2011 | Central (IA) | 39–9 | 14–2 | T-1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2012 | Central (IA) | 36–10 | 12–4 | 2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 2013 | Central (IA) | 32–10 | 12–2 | T-1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2014 | Central (IA) | 30–12 | 10–4 | T–2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 2015 | Central (IA) | 34–12 | 9–3 | T-2nd | NCAA Super Regional |
| 2016 | Central (IA) | 23–15 | 8–6 | 4th | |
| 2017 | Central (IA) | 32–10 | 13–3 | 2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 2018 | Central (IA) | 29–12 | 12–4 | 2nd | NCAA Regional |
| 2019 | Central (IA) | 27–10 | 12–4 | 1st | NCAA Regional |
| 2020 | Central (IA) | 6–1 | 0–0 | | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 |
| 2021 | Central (IA) | 20–14 | 15–9 | 3rd | |
| 2022 | Central (IA) | 21–17 | 7–9 | T-7th | |
| 2023 | Central (IA) | 33–11 | 11–5 | 3rd | NCAA Regional |
| 2024 | Central (IA) | 33–13 | 13–3 | 1st | NCAA Super Regional |
| Central (IA): | Central (IA): | 1,265–450–3 (.737) | 475–149–1 (.761) | | |
| Total: | Total: | 1,265–450–3 (.737) | | | |
| National champion   Postseason invitational champion   Conference regular season champion   Conference regular season and conference tournament champion  Division regular season champion  Division regular season and conference tournament champion  Conference tournament champion ||||||