Kimberly Stiles, who spent the past three seasons as the head softball coach at Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, will try to reverse the fortunes of the University of Maine’s softball program.
She has replaced Jordan Fitzpatrick, who was let go after compiling a 29-117 record in her three seasons at the helm. Fitzpatrick, who played for UMaine from 2007 to 2010, joined head coach Mike Coutts’ staff as an assistant at UMaine in November 2015.
UMaine has not had a winning season since 2016, when the Black Bears won the America East Tournament, earning them a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
UMaine went 28-21 that year.
Since then, the Black Bears have gone 95-186, including a 39-84 record in America East regular season play.
UMaine went 5-41 this past season, 1-20 in America East, and went 1-2 in the league tournament hosted by the Black Bears.
UMaine was 9-47 in conference regular season games the past three seasons, but did go 3-2 in the tournament two years ago.
UMaine’s Kessock Field underwent a $9.5 million renovation two years ago, including an artificial turf surface.
During her three seasons at Holy Cross, Stiles led the Crusaders to a 50-100-1 record including a 14-40 mark in Patriot League regular season games.
But it was the first time in 25 years Holy Cross had won as many as 50 games during a three-year span.
In her first season at Holy Cross, her Crusaders raised their team batting averages and slugging percentages more than 45 points.
She also served on several committees, including the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Head Coaches Committee.
Prior to Holy Cross, the Thurmont, Maryland, native led the University of Charleston (South Carolina) to a 141-83 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2017.
Three of her teams won at least 30 games.
She got her head coaching start at Davis and Elkins College (West Virginia) and posted 135 wins in six seasons, which made her the winningest softball coach in school history.
She was an assistant coach at Division II Midwestern State (Texas) for three seasons before becoming a head coach.
Stiles attended the University of Vermont for one season before transferring to the University of Pittsburgh, where she played three seasons.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in communication and political science from Pittsburgh in 2007 and a master’s degree in kinesiology and athletic administration from Midwestern State in 2009.
Stiles “demonstrated her reputation for a great knowledge of the game and tireless work ethic in supporting students to be the best versions of themselves, on and off the field. Her experience as a head coach, in recruiting the northeast, and her desire to be at and build our program at Maine also stood out,” said UMaine athletic director Jude Killy in a press release. “We are excited about adding Kimberly to our department and university.”
Stiles said she was looking forward to her new job.
“The investment in softball at the University of Maine and energy surrounding athletics right now is truly incredible. I am grateful to Jude Killy and the entire search committee for this opportunity and cannot wait to get started,” she said in the press release.
