MIAMI (Aug. 6, 2019) - Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson has been named the head coach of the FIU softball program, FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced on Tuesday.

"We are excited to announce the hiring of Chris Steiner-Wilcoxson, a proven winner who brings to FIU a tremendous amount of success and experience," Garcia said. "We feel that she will be able to take our softball program to the next level."

Steiner-Wilcoxson joins FIU after spending the past five seasons as head coach of the Alabama State softball program. Steiner-Wilcoxson brings a winning pedigree to the Panthers as she has compiled nearly 500 wins over her 13-year career as a head coach. 

"I am so excited and honored to be a part of the FIU softball program and the FIU family," Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "I would like to thank President Mark B. Rosenberg, Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia and Senior Associate Athletic Director Julie Berg for giving me this opportunity to take FIU to the next level."

Along with her 436-328-2 record as a head coach, she has also won two SWAC titles and has earned three postseason berths. Steiner-Wilcoxson has also coached a slew of postseason honorees with a pair of SWAC Tournament MVPs, and two from each category of Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year. In addition, she has also coached over 85 all-academic selections and 21 all-conference honorees. 

"I am looking forward to leading the FIU softball program in this next chapter and elevating the program to competing at a championship level," Steiner-Wilcoxson said. "I can't wait to help these young ladies be great student-athletes and great representatives of this wonderful university. I look forward to building a solid foundation that the university and community can support and get behind. I am so proud to represent FIU and look forward to building a great program." 

Last season, the Lady Hornets captured their second SWAC championship under Steiner-Wilcoxson and advanced to the Tuscaloosa Regional - second in school history. In 2017, she helped lead the Lady Hornets to a runner-up finish in the SWAC and a berth in the NISC Postseason Tournament. In that tournament, the Lady Hornets won their first postseason game in school history. She also coached four players who were named All-Conference at the conclusion of the season. In addition to her on-the-field success, Steiner-Wilcoxson had the privilege of coaching against Team USA in 2017, leading a group of college all-stars against the national team.

In 2016, Steiner-Wilcoxson led the Lady Hornets to their first softball SWAC Championship in school history in just her second season, toppling Texas Southern in a rematch of the 2015 SWAC Championship with a resounding 18-8 victory to clinch its first NCAA Tournament berth. The 28 wins were the third highest for a single season in school history, and the team led the SWAC with six All-Conference selections and two individual award winners. ASU advanced to the NCAA Tournament to play the No. 1 team in the nation, Florida, on its home field as well as No. 22 Florida Atlantic.

In her first year at Alabama State, she guided the Lady Hornets to a 21-win season and a trip to the SWAC Championship game against Texas Southern at Wilson Morgan Park in Decatur, Alabama. The win total was four more victories than the prior season. 

In six seasons at Auburn-Montgomery, prior to Alabama State, Steiner-Wilcoxson led the Warhawks to three consecutive NAIA Tournament appearances and the first national championship in program history. AUM won at least 30 games every season, including 40 or more victories in her last three seasons with the team. She compiled a 234-97-2 record at AUM. In 2014, Steiner-Wilcoxson led the Warhawks to a 44-7 record, including a school-record 24-game winning streak. AUM won the Southern States Athletic Conference regular season championship with a 25-1 record, as she earned SSAC Coach of the Year accolades for the second time in her career. In December 2014, her coaching staff at AUM was recognized with the 2014 National Fast Pitch Softball Association Coaching Staff of the Year award. During her tenure, AUM was ranked in the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 Poll for 44 consecutive weeks, including 22 straight weeks inside the top 10.

Prior to AUM, Steiner-Wilcoxson had a three-year stint at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Georgia, where she launched the Eagles' softball program in 2005. At Reinhardt, she compiled an 84-80 overall record, including a 55-31 record in conference games. During this span between her time at AUM and Reinhardt, she won more than 30 games in eight consecutive seasons. In her second year at the helm at Reinhardt, Steiner-Wilcoxson was named the 2006 Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Coach of the Year following her team's third-place finish in the SSAC regular season and runner-up finish at the conference tournament. The Eagles were ranked No. 21 in the final NAIA poll that year.

Prior to Steiner-Wilcoxson's move to Reinhardt, she served as head coach at Palmetto (Fla.) High School, where she coached from 2000-2004. She won two District 15 titles and was selected to coach the Florida West All-Star team twice. Her squad set a school record for victories in 2003 with 30, and her teams ranked in the top five of the state's 4-A ratings in each year of her leadership. Steiner-Wilcoxson began her coaching career in 1999 at Eufaula High School, where she established a school record for wins in a season with 29 in 2000 and finished as district runner-up and sub-state finalist.

A two-time team captain at Auburn University, Steiner-Wilcoxson was a three-year starter for the Tigers during Auburn's first three seasons in existence. She hit the first home run in Tigers' softball history and was selected to the Southeastern Conference All-Academic team twice. She led Auburn in home runs in 1997 and closed her playing career in 1999 by leading the team in at-bats, triples and stolen bases. She currently ranks third in the Auburn record book in career stolen bases and triples.

A 1994 graduate of Robertsdale High School in Robertsdale, Alabama, Steiner-Wilcoxson was a four-year starter in softball, volleyball and basketball, earning 12 varsity letters. She was inducted in the RHS Hall of Fame in 2006. Steiner-Wilcoxson is the proud parent of three children -- Easton, Auburn and Rylee. 

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