ST. AUGUSTINE – Flagler College director of athletics
Jud Damon announced today that he has accepted the resignation of head softball coach
Kristen Overton, effective July 1. Overton has made the decision to step down after nine seasons in order to spend more time with her young family.
"Kristen will be sorely missed by the Athletics Department, but we have great respect for the very difficult decision she has made," said Damon. "She built our softball program from the ground up, taking us from no team at all to NCAA prominence -- and she did it while representing the College in a first-class manner at all times and positively impacting the lives of countless student-athletes and the community of St. Augustine. We are very proud of what she has accomplished here and we wish her and her family every blessing in the future."
In less than a decade, Overton has brought the Flagler softball program from fledgling status to national recognition. The Saints were nationally ranked as high as No. 8 in the final 2012 poll, conducted by the National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA). In just their third year of existence (2011), the Saints advanced to the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional and set the record for most wins in a season with 42. The program went even farther in 2012, winning the Super Regional and advancing the NCAA Division II National Championship in Louisville, Kentucky. Overton and assistant coach Sam Boatner were selected as the NFCA's Division II Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
This past season, the Saints rebounded with a 37-19 overall record and won a school-record 18 games in the Peach Belt Conference. Because of that success, she was named the PBC Coach of the Year.
"I want to thank President Dr. William T. Abare, Jr. and Coach Barnett for giving me the opportunity as such a young coach to begin this program and take a chance on me in 2008. I also want to thank Mr. Damon for being an amazing mentor and leader for the past eight years," said Overton. "I've been praying about this day for a few years now. This has been a hard decision, but I know in my heart that it is the right time and the right thing to do. I am so proud of these young women and how much they have given to the program and to the College."
Overton closes out her career with a 263-214 overall record (.551 winning percentage) and a 92-82 mark in the Peach Belt. She has coached five players to NFCA All-Southeast Region honors, 11 to D2CCA All-Southeast Region accolades and 30 All-Peach Belt Conference selections. Overton has coached the PBC Freshman of the Year (
Mackenzie Conley 2014), 15 NFCA Scholar-Athletes, 10 academic all-conference selections, one academic all-district (Conley), and three national players of the week. While achieving such a high level of competitive success, Overton simultaneously led the team to three Peach Belt Conference Team Sportsmanship Awards (2012, 2013 and 2016) and her teams routinely ranked among the top Flagler teams in terms of service hours given to the St. Augustine community.
"I am very grateful to all of the coaches and athletics staff that I have had the pleasure of working with the last nine years," added Overton. "Flagler College, and especially its athletics programs, will always have a special place in my heart. I plan on continuing to be a huge supporter as I plan to bring my kids to as many games as possible."
A national search will be conducted for her replacement starting on Monday (May 22).
Overton and her husband, Jim, reside in St. Augustine with their children Nolan (5) and Kira (4).
