Averett University Cougars

DANVILLE, Va. — Averett University softball head coach Stefanie Anderson has stepped down after three seasons.

“I want to thank Averett for the opportunity to be its softball coach for the past three years,” Anderson said. “It’s been an incredible experience. There is plenty of talent within the program and I think the team has a promising future. However, I decided that now was the proper time to focus solely on my career as a teacher and my family. I plan to stay in touch with the program and I want to watch it continue to succeed.”

Anderson, a former player for the Cougars, led the program to a 33-65 record, including a 20-17 mark during the 2009 season. This season, Averett finished 5-25 and had five players receive recognition from the USA South Conference.

“Stefanie has been a valued and respected colleague,” Averett Director of Athletics Sam Ferguson said. “We appreciate her dedication to our program and all of the effort and enthusiasm she brought to Averett. Stefanie was not only our softball coach, but also a full-time teacher and we can't thank her enough for the sacrifices she made to lead our student-athletes. She did an excellent job recruiting for us and her successor will step into a great situation with the young talent on our team. We will certainly miss her, but support her decision.”

During her four years as a student-athlete, Anderson (formerly Stefanie Clayton) helped the team to a USA South Conference Championship in 2004. That team was the first team in the program’s history to advance to the NCAA Tournament. In 2006, Anderson was chosen as a team captain and was a starter in the outfield. Following her playing career, Anderson was an assistant coach for the Cougars in 2007. She took over the Averett softball program on June 15, 2007, as the school’s fourth coach in team history.

“We are committed to the continued enhancement of our softball program,” Ferguson said. “Thanks to the support of the administration and board of trustees, will conduct a national search for our first full-time head softball coach immediately.”