The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Softball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach, Softball
On July 1, 2022, Texas head coach Mike White announced that former Oklahoma volunteer assistant and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi & Temple College head coach Kristen Zaleski would be heading to the Forty Acres to join his staff as an assistant coach with the Longhorns.
Working with the outfielders, Zaleski helped true freshman Kayden Henry now only adjust to collegiate softball, but excel in her first season as the Dickinson, Texas native was named a D1Softball Freshman All-American, All-Big 12 Second Team, All-Big 12 Freshman Team and NFCA All-Central Third Team. After opening her season in left field, Zaleski worked with Henry as the freshman moved to centerfield midway through the season. The move provided to be a great asset as Henry made a throw from the 220-feet marker in centerfield to her cutoff to begin a game-ending play at the plate in Texas' one-run win over then-No. 1 Oklahoma. Henry also made countless outstanding defensive plays in centerfield throughout the Longhorns' five games at the Women's College World Series (WCWS). Zaleski was also instrumental in the mental aspect of the game and was a focal point for student-athletes to be able to work on their mental health throughout the lengthy season. As a result of taking the regular season series against then-No. 1 Oklahoma, winning the Big 12 Conference regular season championship and appearing in the WCWS Championship Series, Zaleski and the rest of UT's four-member softball coaching staff were selected as the 2024 ATEC/NFCA Division I Central Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
In her first season working with the Longhorn student-athletes, Zaleski worked alongside Steve Singleton to guide the Texas offense to a team batting average of .325 to go alongside 52 home runs, 326 runs batted in and 797 total bases. Under the duo's guidance, five different student-athletes finished the 2023 season with 50-or-more hits, led by sophomore Mia Scott's 75. By season's end, the Longhorns finished the season with a .390 on-base percentage and a .486 slugging percentage. Three student-athletes finished with 100-or-more bases (Leighann Goode, 112; Mia Scott, 100; Viviana Martinez, 100), while Ashton Maloney, Bella Dayton and Alyssa Popelka combined for five outfield assists. Zaleski also helped Scott transition from third base to centerfield during the midst of the 2023 season.
During the 2022 campaign, 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).
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)
