LIVINGSTON, Ala. – Director of Athletics Kent Partridge has named Stephanie DeFeo as the next head coach of the University of West Alabama softball program.

"We are excited to bring Stephanie on board as our head softball coach," Partridge said. "She brings years of experience to the softball program and will be a perfect fit for the UWA community.

"After an extensive search and the opportunity to spend time with her during the process, there was no doubt she was the perfect fit for us," Partridge said. "We can't wait for her to take the reins of the Tiger program."

DeFeo joins the West Alabama staff after spending eight seasons at the helm of the Mercer University softball program. While at Mercer, she was the winningest coach in program history with a 217-195 record and was the only coach to win 200 games.

Since taking over the Bear's program in 2014, DeFeo coached four CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, 2015 SoCon Pitcher of the Year Kirsten Stevens, and the 2018 SoCon Freshman of the Year Micayla Rood. She also instructed 50 all-conference performers, with 14 landing on the first team, 11 second team selections, 13 all-freshman team honorees, and 12 student-athletes who garnered all-tournament team honors. Under her direction, the team finished top-3 in the SoCon Tournament five times, including the team's only championship appearance in 2015.

"I want to thank Dr. (Ken) Tucker, Kent Partridge, Janet Montgomery, and Christi Wade for giving me this amazing opportunity," DeFeo said. "It's unique to work for an administration that has such an invested interest not only in the softball program but the entire athletic department."

"From the moment I stepped on campus I knew this was a very special university," DeFeo said. "I am ready to meet the team and get to work."

Before Mercer, DeFeo served as an assistant coach at several institutions, including Purdue University, the University of Buffalo, the University of Texas at San Antonio, and Southeastern Louisiana University. She also had stops as head coach or associate head coach at Ball State University, University of North Carolina Greensboro, and East Tennessee State University.

As a student-athlete, DeFeo attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was an All-American and completed a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.