May 12, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF head softball coach Renee Luers-Gillispie was honored by the Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau as its Tourism Ambassador of the Year on Tuesday at the 2009 Seminole County Tourism Week Celebration Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.
Gillispie garnered the honor for her dedication to women's sports, bringing sporting events to Seminole County and her assistance with the planning of the Jetta Point Softball Complex.
The Jetta Point Softball Complex, projected to be completed by 2011, will house three NCAA regulation fastpitch softball fields, which will give Seminole County the opportunity to host not only collegiate softball teams from around the country for tournaments, but also travel ball and high school teams.
While awaiting the approval and completion of the UCF Softball Complex when she arrived at UCF in 2002, Gillispie teamed up with Altamonte Sports to host the Knights' spring tournaments at Merrill Park in Altamonte Springs for two seasons before their home field was completed in 2006. Most recently, UCF faced off with the U.S. National Team on its Bound 4 Beijing Tour in 2008 at the Knight Games College Softball Tournament. The game drew more than 4,000 spectators to the Seminole County complex.
Gillispie recently completed her eighth season at the helm of the UCF softball program and has been coaching women's fastpitch since 1991.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to www.UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit www.UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.
-UCF-