The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball announces Kristen Zaleski as new assistant coach
07.01.2022 | Softball
Zaleski spent this past season serving as the volunteer assistant coach at Oklahoma
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas head softball coach Mike White announced on Friday that recent Oklahoma volunteer assistant and former Texas A&M-Corpus Christi & Temple College head coach Kristen Zaleski is heading to the Forty Acres to join his staff as an assistant coach with the Longhorns.
"We are very excited to announce the addition of Kristen Zaleski to our Longhorns family," White said. "Coach Zaleski brings a wealth of experience with her to the University of Texas, not only from her time spent in the coaching ranks, but also from her playing career as a professional with National Pro Fastpitch and as a two-time All-American at Texas State. She will have an immediate impact on our program, and we are eager to welcome her to Austin and the Forty Acres."
This past season, Zaleski served as the volunteer assistant on head coach Patty Gasso's staff during Oklahoma's record-setting run to the program's sixth national title. Along the way, the Sooners held the No. 1 national ranking wire-to-wire while leading NCAA Division I in numerous team categories including batting average (.371), ERA (1.05), HR's (155), on-base percentage (.474), scoring (9.34), walks (268) and shutouts (33).
"I am grateful for the opportunity that Coach White has given me to join the Longhorns family," Zaleski said. "I am excited to work with and learn from both him and Coach (Steve) Singleton and bring value from my various experiences to help add to the success of this program. It is very evident that a championship culture has been established at the University of Texas, and I can't wait to get to Austin to get to work and start building relationships with these incredible young ladies."
Prior to her year at OU, Zaleski spent two seasons as the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (2020-21). During her time with the Islanders, her main focus was on a complete rebuild of a program that had gone just 8-43 the year prior to her arrival. In her only full non-COVID season in charge in 2021, Zaleski's squad registered 18 wins, marking the most single-season victories for the program since 2016, while also setting a program record with five consecutive shutout triumphs.
Before arriving on the Island, Zaleski spent nine seasons (2010-19) as the head coach at Temple College in Temple, Texas. Under her guidance, the Leopards posted a sterling 413-127 overall record (.765) and a 237-47 (.835) North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference (NTJCAC) mark while securing five league titles (2011, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) and the 2018 National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) D1 National Championship. A three-time NTJCAC Coach or Co-Coach of the Year, Zaleski's 2018 staff was rewarded for its national title run by being voted as the NFCA NJCAA DI National Coaching Staff of the Year. In all, her teams won four Region V North Championships and made four national tournament appearances (2012, 2015, 2018, 2019). At Temple College, she also spent time as a Sports Information Director, as a Student Success Coach for all athletes, as the Deputy Coordinator for Title IX for Athletics and as an instructor in the Physical Education Department.
Zaleski did double duty while still at Temple College by also serving as an assistant coach with the Dallas Charge of National Pro Fastpitch in 2016. With the Charge, she worked primarily with outfielders and hitters, coordinated with the rest of the staff on practice and game-day plans and coached first base. Also on her coaching resume was an August 2005-May 2006 stint as a graduate assistant at Texas State.
Collegiately at Texas State, Zaleski was a two-time NFCA All-American as a player for the Bobcats while twice earning both Southland Conference Player & Hitter of the Year honors (2003 & 2004). She set numerous TXST single-season and career program records and finished as the Southland Conference's career leader in both hits (291) and stolen bases (128).
Professionally, Zaleski played five seasons of National Pro Fastpitch with the Texas Thunder (2004-06) and the Rockford Thunder (2007-08). She earned NPF Most Valuable Player honors in 2005, was a two-time NPF All-Star (2004 & 2008) and a three-time All-NPF Team selection (2005, 2006, 2007) and was selected to the U.S. National Training Team to compete for a spot on the 2008 U.S. Olympic squad. She also participated in MLB Softball Clinics with the Detroit Tigers (2006, 2007) and the San Francisco Giants (2005).
Zaleski graduated cum laude from Texas State University in 2004 with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. During her scholastic career, she earned the Citizenship Through Sports Alliance Award from the NCAA (2004), reaped Verizon CoSIDA Academic All-American (2002-03) and NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete honors and was voted as the Southland Conference's Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2004.
Zaleski's Coaching Resume
Assistant Coach, University of Texas (July 2022-)
Volunteer Coach, University of Oklahoma (Sept. 2021-June 2022)
Head Coach, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (June 2019-Aug. 2021)
Head Coach, Temple College (Aug. 2010-July 2019)
Assistant Coach, NPF's Dallas Charge (May 2016-August 2016)
Graduate Assistant Coach, Texas State University (Aug. 2005-May 2006)
