UCF Knights softball

UCF Knights Softball
Founded 2002
University University of Central Florida
Conference The American
Location Orlando, FL
Head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie (14th year)
Home stadium UCF Softball Complex (Capacity: 600)
Nickname UCF Knights
Colors Black and Gold[1]
         
NCAA Tournament Appearances
2005, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2015
Conference Tournament Champions
2005, 2008, 2015
Conference Champions
2014, 2015

The UCF Knights softball program represents the University of Central Florida in the sport of softball. The Knights compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the American Athletic Conference (The American). The Knights play their home games at the UCF Softball Complex on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida.[2] The Knights are coached by head coach Renee Luers-Gillispie.[3] In the fourteen-year history of the program, the Knights have won two American regular season championships, three conference tournament championships, and have six appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

History

The UCF softball program was founded in 2002, under the program's only head coach, Renee Luers-Gillispie.[4] The Knights played their first games on February 2, losing the first contest 2–3 to Bethune–Cookman, and winning their second game against Arkansas, 6–5.[5] The program played its first four seasons in the Atlantic Sun Conference. In their last year in the conference, the Knights won their first conference tournament championship, defeating Troy twice in one day, and made their first NCAA tournament appearance.[5] In 2005, UCF moved to Conference USA, where they remained until joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013.[6]

The UCF Softball Complex opened on March 14, 2006, with the Knights winning two games that day, a 10–9 victory over Marshall and a 7–3 win over Furman.[5][7] In 2008, Gillespie would lead the Knights to their second conference tournament championship, their first in C-USA, and their second appearance in the NCAA tournament, by defeating #9 Houston. During the tournament, UCF defeated #1 Florida 1–0. In both 2010 and 2012, Gillespie led the Knights to the NCAA tournament.[5]

In the past decade, the Knights own nine no-hitters, including two perfect games.[5] The first two no-hitters in program history were perfect games, and four no-hitters were pitched by Allison Kime.[5] Stephanie Best holds the club record for batting average with .384, home runs with 71 and triples with 13.[5] After their careers at UCF, three Knights have played in the National Pro Fastpitch League (NPF); Stephanie Best, Allison Kime and Breanne Javier.[5]

Coaches

Tenure Coach Years Record Pct.
2002–Present Renee Luers-Gillispie 14 522–334–1 .610
Totals 1 coach 14 seasons 522–334–1 .610
Records are through the conclusion of the 2015 NCAA Regular Season.

Seasons

Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
UCF Knights (Atlantic Sun) (2002–2005)
2002 Renee Luers-Gillispie 46–19 12–6 3
2003 Renee Luers-Gillispie 37–31 13–7 4
2004 Renee Luers-Gillispie 42–21 16–4 2
2005 Renee Luers-Gillispie 47–29–1 13–7 4 NCAA Regionals
UCF Knights (Conference USA) (2006–2013)
2006 Renee Luers-Gillispie 19–37 4–20 9
2007 Renee Luers-Gillispie 38–26 11–13 4
2008 Renee Luers-Gillispie 49–20 16–7 2 NCAA Regionals
2009 Renee Luers-Gillispie 27–27 11–12 5
2010 Renee Luers-Gillispie 36–23 16–7 3 NCAA Regionals
2011 Renee Luers-Gillispie 22–32 11–13 6
2012 Renee Luers-Gillispie 39–19 15–9 3 NCAA Regionals
2013 Renee Luers-Gillispie 29–25 10–14 3
UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference) (2014–present)
2014 Renee Luers-Gillispie 43–18 15–3 1 NCAA Regionals
2015 Renee Luers-Gillispie 48–7 15–2 1 NCAA Tournament
Total: 522–334–1

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References

  1. ↑ UCF Graphic Standards (PDF). UCF.edu. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  2. ↑ McMurphy, Brett. "Old Big East now American Athletic". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  3. ↑ 2011 UCF Knights Softball Quick Facts
  4. ↑ 2010 UCF Knights Softball Media Guide
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UCF Knights Softball History and Records
  6. ↑ UCF Conference Affiliation History
  7. ↑ UCF Softball Complex
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