2011 RAGIN ’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL STEFNI LOTIEF Co-Head Coach • 11th Season Overall Record: 497-128 (.795) • Sun Belt Record: 167-30 (.848) In 2001 Stefni Lotief was named the “Most of the players on this team are HONORS N’ head coach of the perennially ranked Ragin’ ‘hometown girls’,” she said. “The coaches are Profiles AWARDS Cajuns softball program after being one of the hometown people. All of us, for the most part, most successful players in the history of the were overlooked by the ‘big’ schools in the NCAA Women’s College World Series storied program. Since 2003, she has served recruiting process. Two (2003, 2008) alongside husband Michael Lotief as co-head “We had the courage to make a choice to coach of the program. defy the naysayers and conventional wisdom Coach NCAA Super Regionals No stranger to success in her days as an and stay close to home, near family and friends Two (2008, 2010) All-American pitcher for Louisiana from 1987- and pursue excellence,” she added. “All of us 1990, Lotief has continued that success as co- came here with hopes and dreams. Add to that NCAA Regionals head coach and kept the Ragin’ Cajuns as one hard-work and solid preparation – it creates an Ten (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, of the nation’s premier programs guiding the environment where people care about each 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) Cajuns to seven NCAA Regional championship other – and add in a community where fans and games, a two Super Regionals and two families who support and believe in the dreams Sun Belt Regular Season Championships Women’s College World Series appearance in and hopes, and watch the dreams become Nine (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, her first ten seasons at the helm. reality.” 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) In Lotief, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ pitching staff has one of the top mentors in the nation. In the Coaching at Louisiana Sun Belt Tournament Championships last four seasons, the Cajuns pitching staff have Lotief has garnered Sun Belt Conference Nine (2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, had two freshmen (Brittany Cuevas, 2007 and Coach of the Year honors six times (2001, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010) Ashley Brignac, 2008) who have won 30 games 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010) and Louisiana in the circle and posted 300-plus strikeouts. Coach of the Year honors four times (2003, NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year In addition to her pitching staff duties, 2004, 2005, 2008). One (2010) Lotief manages the softball program’s In 2010, UL won its third straight Sun Belt administrative duties and spearheads the Regular Season Title and their thrid cosecutive Sun Belt Coach of the Year program’s fundraising arm. Sun Belt Tournament Championship. The 20 Six (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010) Cajuns defeated No.18 Texas A&M twice and A Winning Tradition host No.17 LSU once to advance through the Louisiana Coach of the Year Lotief holds an overall record of 497- Baton Rouge Regional. UL fell to eventual Four (2003, 2004, 2005, 2008) 128 (.795) at the University of Louisiana and National Champion UCLA in the Super has posted 50-plus victories six times in ten Regional. seasons. Her career winning percentage ranks In 2009, the Ragin’ Cajuns reclaimed NFCA All-American Selections near the top in the NCAA record books amongst the Sun Belt Conference regular season and Nine all active Division I head coaches. tournament titles for the second season in a Lotief’s teams claimed the Sun Belt row after being edged out in 2007 by Florida CoSIDA Academic All-American Selections Conference regular season and tournament Atlantic. Two championships in her first six seasons and In 2008, Louisiana won the Baton Rouge posted the first undefeated conference record Regional defeating LSU in the winner’s bracket NFCA All-Region Selections in program history in 2004 (18-0). She has led final and championship game to advance to the 30 the program to NCAA Regionals in each season Super Regional round in Houston. The Cajuns and the Women’s College World Series in 2003 won the Houston Super Regional to advance All-Sun Belt Selections and 2008. to the second WCWS appearance under Lotief. 68 (51 First Team) She has compiled a 167-30 (.848) record Louisiana would defeat No.1 national seed in Sun Belt games. Florida in the WCWS opening game. Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll Selections From 2004 through 2006 the Cajuns won (3.00 - 3.49 GPA) Attracting Homegrown Talent 50-plus games. It was the first time in program 68 Alongside her husband and co-head history that Louisiana reached 50 wins in three coach Michael Lotief, she has been able to consecutive seasons. The 2004 team marched Sun Belt Commissioner’s List Selections maintain the high standards of the program its way to a school-record 60 victories and (3.50 - 4.00 GPA) with “hometown” athletes, affirming her belief ended national power Arizona’s string of 16 47 that the state of Louisiana and East Texas is a straight Women’s College World Series berths hotbed for college softball. with a 5-0 win at the NCAA Regional No. 1 RAGIN ’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL 2011 RAGIN ’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL STEFNI LOTIEF’S MILESTONE VICTORIES ERA/STRIKEOUTS UNDER STEFNI LOTIEF Win Date Opponent Location Score 1 Feb. 17, 2001 vs. Dayton Lake Charles, La. 10-0 Year ERA Strikeouts 50 May 17, 2001 vs. Southern Miss Baton Rouge, La. 5-1 2001 1.44 254 100 May 11, 2002 vs. Middle Tennessee Miami, Fla. 6-0 2002 1.83 340 200 May 9, 2004 at Middle Tennessee Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6-3 2003 1.25 372 300 Apr. 29, 2006 vs. Western Kentucky Lafayette, La. 3-2 2004 0.90 637 400 May 9, 2008 vs. Western Kentucky Troy, Ala. 3-1 2005 1.05 537 2006 1.87 388 semifinal held in Tucson, Ariz.. school record for wins (35). 2007 2.19 414 Perhaps her best work as the Ragin’ Cajuns Lotief’s second season (2002) was 2008 1.34 585 pitching instructor took place in 2009. The Cajuns highlighted by an NCAA Regional held at Alfred 2009 1.02 487 finished second in nation with a 1.02 team ERA and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball 2010 2.32 392 with opponents posting a meager .166 batting Park, the first time since 1997 that UL had Total 1.52 4,406 average. hosted a regional. She was also instrumental In 2006, She worked with a pair of pitchers in getting a new lighting system for the park, an Prior to Louisiana who were tossing at the Division I level for the accomplishment which helped the school land Her collegiate coaching experience is first time ever – Krystal Lewallen and Ashley the regional bid. not just with Louisiana. In 1992, Lotief was Kirchberg – and guided them both to 20-win The 50-win season was the second straight the pitching coach at North Carolina. She later Coach seasons. for the program and Lotief and it marked just the returned to Louisiana as an assistant pitching In 2005, the pitching staff posted a Lotief second time in school history that the Cajuns and catching coach for the Cajuns during the Era-best 32 shutouts and reached 500 strikeouts had back-toback such seasons. Lotief became 1996 and 1997 seasons. for the second straight season. the fastest to 100 wins in school history as well. Before joining the Ragin’ Cajuns’ program Under her tutelage in 2004, All-American as cohead coach, she was the head coach and Profiles pitcher Brooke Mitchell set the single-season Award-Winning Results president of the Louisiana Image, one of the best record for strikeouts with 524 and led the nation Since arriving in 2001, Lotief has demanded American Softball Association fastpitch teams in in victories with 45 en route to being named an that her team performs both on and off the field. the country. As the mentor of the Image, Lotief NFCA/Louisville Slugger Division I First Team Her squads have set high academic standards worked with some of the best college players in All-American. The pitching staff’s earned run and maintained them. the country. average of 0.90 ranked second in the NCAA In 2002-03, a total of 12 members (out She also served as a marketing instructor stats. of 18 total) on the team were members of the and Assistant Dean in the College of Business The Cajuns ended the 2004 season ranked Sun Belt Conference Academic Honor Roll. Administration at UL. No. 10 in the final NFCA Top 25 poll – the second Six received recognition of being named to the straight season with a Top 10 finish. Commissioner’s List (3.5 GPA and above). As a Student-Athlete at Louisiana In 2003, Lotief and her squad saw their The Cajuns topped that mark in 2009-10 Lotief came to the Ragin’ Cajuns via dreams come true and hard work pay off. She when a total of 20 (out of 26) student-athletes Friendswood, Texas, and became the school’s guided the program to the pinnacle of the college were recognized by the Sun Belt. Eleven were first-ever All-American in 1989. She became the softball world with an appearance in the 2003 named to the Academic Honor Roll while nine program’s first, first-team All-American one year Women’s College World Series – theprogram’s landed on the Commisioner’s List. later, and was named the 1990 GTE Academic first appearance during her tenure.