Josh Bumgarner was named the Head Softball Coach at Lees-McRae College in August 2023 after a successful stint at Catawba Valley Community College where he was the first head coach in program history.

Bumgarner finished his first year with Lees-McRae at 18-23 overall and 13-11 in Conference Carolinas play. Lonna Addison and McKenzie Presson represented the Bobcats on the All-Conference Carolinas teams this past spring with Addison being named to the first team and Presson earning all-defensive honors. Hannah Foster, Presson, and Lauren Ritchie were tabbed to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District® NCAA Division II Women's Softball Team in May 2024 for their efforts on the diamond and in the classroom.

Bumgarner was tabbed CVCC's inaugural head softball coach in 2019 where he compiled an overall record of 115-40 in four seasons in Hickory, North Carolina. In 2023, Bumgarner was named the Region X Coach of the Year and led the Red Hawks to a 44-8 record and Region X runner-up finish.

"I am extremely grateful and humbled to be allowed to lead the softball program at Lees-McRae," said Bumgarner. "I want to thank Craig McPhail for believing that I was the one for this job. I firmly believe God placed me here for a reason, and I feel very blessed to be a Bobcat. I will work extremely hard to make my players, the college, and community proud."

Prior to CVCC, Bumgarner coached at East Alexander Middle School for six years and was named the first-ever head coach of the Taylorsville Post 170 American Legion Softball team in 2018. Bumgarner also served as the assistant softball coach at Alexander Central High School where he coached recent Lees-McRae graduate Julie Gast to a state championship in 2018.

Bumgarner earned his bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Appalachian State University with a concentration in History and a minor in Sociology. Bumgarner is also a teacher for Alexander County Schools.