KATHY STEWART is in her 17th season as the head softball coach at Northern Kentucky University. Stewart is 488-344 in 16 years as the NKU softball coach and is the program’s all-time winningest coach.
NKU opened its inaugural season of NCAA Division I play as a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2013. The Norse posted a record of 11-41, including a 5-22 mark in league play. The team graduated yet another career home run champion in Emily Schwaeble, who ended her career with 33 round-trippers.
In 2012, NKU finished its final season of NCAA Division II play with a 38-21 record, advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the fourth year in a row. NKU advanced to the Midwest Super Regional before falling to Saint Joseph’s (Ind.). The Norse also set program records for home runs (58) and slugging percentage (.443) in a season.
In 2011, the Norse qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season and eighth time during Stewart’s tenure, amassing a 29-17 record.
The Norse returned to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship game for the second-straight season in 2010 en route to a 35-20 season. NKU also made a return trip to the NCAA Tournament, this time as an at-large selection.
In 2009, Stewart engineered a dramatic turnaround for the Norse, as the team won 12 of its final 15 games on the season to finish with a 32-23 record and claim the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament championship for the second time in team history.
Six seasons ago, Stewart led her team to a 41-21 record and a fifth consecutive NCAA Division II Tournament berth. NKU advanced to the championship
round of the Great Lakes Region Tournament at Edwardsville, Ill., and finished as regional runner-up.
In 2005, Stewart guided NKU to 55 consecutive victories - a collegiate softball record - en route to the NCAA Division II national finals at Salem, Va. The Norse finished with a 55-2 record, won the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and regular-season titles, and also captured the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Region championship for the second straight year.
NKU also vaulted to No. 1 nationally in the Division II poll for the first time in history and remained atop those rankings much of the spring. The Norse featured three All-Americans, including Division II National Player of the Year Krystal Lewallen. Stewart was named GLVC Coach of the Year for the third time in her career.
In 2004, Stewart led the Norse to 54 victories and the program’s firstever NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional championship. NKU posted a 54-7 record, finished 19-1 in the GLVC and advanced to the NCAA Division II national finals at Altamonte Springs, Fla.
In addition, Stewart was named GLVC Coach of the Year. The Norse were ranked as high as No. 5 nationally in the NCAA Division II poll and hosted the NCAA Division II Great Lakes Regional at Highland Heights, Ky.
During the 2003 season, Stewart guided NKU to a 36-17 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The Norse defeated West Virginia Wesleyan, 11-2, in the first round for the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament win.
In 2002, Stewart led the Norse to 36 wins and guided NKU to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the first time in history. The Norse also finished second in the GLVC regular-season standings with a 16-3 record.
Prior to accepting the NKU job, Stewart was the head softball coach at Fairfield (Ohio) High School from 1992-96 where she compiled a 77-23 record.
A 1988 graduate of NKU, Stewart led Fairfield to three Greater Miami Conference championships and was named GMC Coach of the Year in 1994 and ’96.
