Prior to her time in Stillwater, Pestrak served on Walton’s staff for two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach with the Gators, helping lead the team to back-to-back national championships in 2014-15 on the strength of an aggregate 115-19 record.
Florida played surehanded defense en route to its two titles with aid from Pestrak, ranking second in the SEC and third in the nation in fielding percentage (.978) in 2014, and pulling in as the top team in the nation in the category in 2015 (.981).
The Gators’ steady defense aided the squad in leading the nation in ERA in both seasons, with a team 1.96 mark in 2014 and 1.63 in 2015, and the squad’s 0.42 double plays turned per game in 2014 ranked second-most in the conference as well.
“I’m looking for Stacie to instill that belief in our team, and the team first mentality and maturity that she brings will be crucial in helping lead this program,” Ball-Malone continued. “Coaching doesn’t just happen on the field; a lot of our time is also spent in the office and working on preparation, those things directly affect what happens on the field. I’m excited for her to bring her experience in to help everyone here operate more efficiently, which in turn will lead to results on the field.”
Pestrak’s two-year coaching stint at Florida represented a return home as well, as she also spent two seasons in Gainesville during her collegiate playing career in 2005 and 2006. The former infielder hit .283/.348/.351 (71-for-251) between her two campaigns, recording six doubles, four triples, one home run, 88 total bases and 25 RBI.
Pestrak’s Gators earned NCAA Tournament berths in both seasons, and she went on to earn a spot on the 2006 SEC academic honor roll. The utility player was a junior college All-America selection in 2004 at Santa Fe College prior to arriving in Gainesville. She also earned the Florida Community College Athletic Association’s Jean Williams scholar-athlete award and was a two-time academic all-state selection.
“We hope to be at UCF for a long time, and get the Knights to their first Women’s College World Series, where I’ve been fortunate to have had a lot of experience, being there seven times and winning a pair of national championships,” Pestrak continued. “I’ve always been surrounded by great coaches and great people, and I know those are goals that coach Bear has for this program.”
Following her Gator playing career, Pestrak spent two years in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Philadelphia Force before beginning her coaching career at Northwestern State, where she helped the Demons go from a five-win season in 2009 to a 27-win campaign in 2010. She was responsible for player skill development in defense, base running and bunting, and assisted with hitting, conditioning and game strategy.
On the heels of four seasons at Northwestern State, Pestrak spent the 2013 campaign as an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo before joining Florida again in 2014.
Pestrak and her wife, Katie, have two sons, Kaden and Killian.
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