Creighton Head Coach Krista Wood has finalized the 2025 coaching staff with the appointment of Garrett Furnal as an assistant coach, announced on Thursday, Aug. 15. Furnal joins Wood’s team, which includes assistant coach KJ Murphy, graduate assistant Madeline Vejvoda, and Director of Player Development Danielle Manley.
“First and foremost, I’m grateful to Coach Wood for this opportunity,” said Furnal. “Our discussions highlighted our shared goals and values on and off the field. I’m excited to collaborate with her, Coach Murphy, Coach Vejvoda, and Coach Manley. It’s a wonderful time to be part of the Bluejay family, and I look forward to creating something special at Creighton.”
Furnal arrives at Creighton after three seasons as an assistant coach at Northern Iowa, where the Panthers recorded a 104-42 overall record and claimed two Missouri Valley Conference regular-season titles, boasting a 66-9 record in conference play.
As the outfield and hitting coach at UNI, Furnal contributed to the Panthers’ recognition as the MVC Coaching Staff of the Year in 2022 and 2023, helping to develop nine NFCA All-Region and 18 All-MVC athletes, including two MVC Players of the Year and two MVC Freshmen of the Year.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Garrett to the Creighton Softball family,” stated Wood. “With his extensive experience and passion for the game, I’m confident he will enhance our team’s performance at the plate. I look forward to witnessing the impact he will make as we strive to build a championship culture at Creighton. He is undoubtedly a valuable addition to our Bluejay family.”
Under Furnal’s leadership, UNI set seven single-season records, achieving milestones in batting average (.323), slugging percentage (.572), and more. The Panthers ranked top in the MVC in several categories, including batting average and runs scored, and set MVC records for doubles and RBIs in 2023.
Furnal’s players led the MVC in home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS for the last three years, while achieving national rankings in various offensive categories in 2023.
“I also want to express my gratitude to the UNI coaching staff for my time in Cedar Falls,” Furnal added. “Coaches Jacobs and Wright, along with Director of Player Development Andreas Tan, are exceptional professionals, and I cherish their friendship and mentorship.”
Before joining the UNI staff, Furnal spent three seasons at Ohio University as an assistant coach and lead recruiting coordinator, contributing to the development of seven All-MAC selections. He guided the Bobcats to a record-breaking 31-win season in 2019 and led the team in multiple offensive statistics.
Prior to Ohio, Furnal held assistant coaching roles at UNC Wilmington and Presbyterian College. In his first year at UNCW, he led the Seahawks to a record 35 wins and a program-best fielding percentage. At Presbyterian, he achieved back-to-back 25-win seasons and coached 18 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes along with seven All-Big South selections.
Furnal started his coaching career at the University of Louisiana at Monroe as an assistant coach intern, overseeing hitters and helping the team achieve its highest batting average in decades.
He graduated from Marshalltown Community College in 2010 and earned a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State in 2013.
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