Softball | 7/10/2018 10:21:00 AM

GREENVILLE, Pa. – Director of Athletics Amy Schafer announced the hiring of Stephanie Fort Tuesday as Thiel College's head softball coach.
 
Fort spent the last three seasons as the assistant softball coach at Allegheny College, her alma mater. The Gators increased their number of wins from nine in 2016 to 10 in 2017 before having a breakout year in 2018 when the team won 18 games and qualified for the North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Championships for the first time since 2015.
 
The Gators' 18 wins in 2018 are the most in a single season since the 2013 squad won 24 games.
 
"I want to thank Amy and the search committee for this opportunity," Fort said. "I am incredibly excited for the opportunity to lead the Thiel softball program. I believe in the tradition and potential of Thiel athletics, and I have every intention of honoring that tradition through excellence in the classroom and on the field."
 
During her tenure as assistant coach the Gators earned 10 All-NCAC honorees. This past season first-year outfielder Kelly Lafferty was tabbed NCAC Newcomer of the Year and senior catcher Jessica Zavolta was named to the All-NCAC First-Team.
 
Fort is no stranger to NCAC accolades. A shortstop and outfielder during her playing career with the Gators, Fort was a four-time All-NCAC honoree from 2010-13. In 2012, she was named NCAC Player of the Year after batting .378 with a league-leading nine home runs while leading the Gators to the NCAC regular season title.
 
During her senior season in 2013, Fort and the Gators won the NCAC Championship and advanced to the championship game of the NCAA Regional Tournament. Fort started all 144 games during her career with the Gators and ranks fourth in program history with 20 career home runs.
 
"Stephanie Fort was highly recommended, and I am happy to welcome her to the Thiel College family," said Schafer, who coached Thiel's softball team for 10 seasons from 2006 through 2015. "Coach Fort was an award-winning softball player and went on to help develop a championship-caliber team at Allegheny. I am confident she is the right person to lead Thiel's softball program."
 
Fort has served as an instructor at multiple softball camps, including: Legendary Softball Camp, University of Akron Zips Softball Showcase and Kent State University Queen of Diamonds Softball Showcase.
 
Prior to coaching at Allegheny, Fort served as an assistant coach for the softball, cross country and indoor track & field teams at her high school alma mater, Saint Catherine's School, in Richmond, Va.
 
Fort graduated from Allegheny in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in biology and a minor in psychology. She anticipates earning a master's degree in coaching education and athlete development from Xavier University later in July.