Stacie Pestrak Named Assistant Softball Coach
7/19/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BUFFALO, NY - University at Buffalo softball head coach Jen Teague has announced that Stacie Pestrak will join the program as an assistant coach. Pestrak, who will be in charge of the outfielders at UB, spent the last four seasons as an assistant coach at Northwestern State University in Louisiana.
"We are excited to have Stacie join our staff as we continue to grow this program," said Teague. "Her knowledge of the outfield will add to the already talented group that we have here. She also has recruiting ties in the South and the Junior College circuit that will be extremely helpful."
At Northwestern State, Pestrak helped the Demons go from a five-win season in 2009 to a 27-win campaign in 2010. One season later, Northwestern State won 32 games. She was responsible for player skill development for defense (infield and outfield), base running and bunting; while assisting in the development of hitting, conditioning and game strategy.
"I am thrilled to join the Buffalo family and work with everyone at UB," said Pestrak. "I want to thank Coach Teague and the Buffalo administration for giving me this opportunity. I not only welcome the opportunity, but also the challenge of continuing to build this softball program into one of the best by integrating my vast experience in the South, both as a coach and a player."
Pestrak has a history with Teague as she played under her in 2007 with the Philadelphia Force. That year, Pestrak was chosen to represent the Force and the National Pro Fast-Pitch league at the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Fan Fest in San Francisco, assisting with a clinic and hosting the league's fan booth. She began her pro career in the summer of 2006.
Prior to her professional playing career, Pestrak played two seasons at Florida, assisting the Gators to two straight NCAA Tournament appearances. Pestrak was a junior college All-America in 2004 at Santa Fe Community College. She also earned the Florida Community College Athletic Association's Jean Williams Scholar-Athlete Award and was a two-time Academic All-State selection.
At Santa Fe, she helped lead her team to a 42-13 record to earn NJCAA second-team and National Fastpitch Coaches Association third-team All-America honors. She set school career records for steals (92) and runs (92), and set the single-season steals record (52) as a sophomore. She was team captain and won the Leadership and Drive Award.
In 2003, she was an All-Mid Florida Conference selection as a freshman as she led the state with 9 triples and batted .354 while being chosen as Santa Fe's rookie of the year.
She batted .283 in two seasons for Florida while starting 108 of 126 games, posting 31 career steals in 39 attempts. Pestrak had 71 hits, including 6 doubles, 4 triples and a home run, while driving in 24 runs. She made 19 sacrifice bunts and fielded .941. The Gators went a combined 84-46 and reached the NCAA Tournament in both of her seasons.
As a senior, Pestrak hit .315 to lead the Gators and had 12 steals a year after setting a pair of Florida junior class records with 19 steals and 13 sacrifices. She stole 14 straight bases in 2005.
A native of Gainesville, FL, Pestrak made the Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2005 and 2006.
A two-sport star at Buchholz High School, she was nominated as a McDonald's All-America basketball player. She helped lead the softball team to the state semifinals in 2000 and the state finals in 2002, when she was third-team All-State.
Pestrak was assistant coach at Santa Fe CC in 2006-07 and was the interim head coach for the Rising Stars Showcase Tournament that fall. She has been a camp and clinic instructor since 2004 at Florida, and has also been an assistant coach for travel teams in summer competition.
