SAN DIEGO – San Diego State announced today that softball associate head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz has been named the program's head coach in waiting. A three-time U.S. Olympian, Nuveman Deniz has been with the Aztecs for 12 seasons.
"This opportunity means the world to me and secures my future at San Diego State," Nuveman Deniz said. "My family has built solid roots in San Diego since coming to The Mesa in 2008, and this truly is home. I would like to thank (SDSU director of athletics) John David Wicker and (SDSU softball head coach) Kathy Van Wyk for their support of this designation. I look forward to continuing to elevate the program Kathy has been building for the past 24 years. The future is bright for SDSU softball and I am truly an #AztecforLife!"
"Over the years I've had a number of assistant coaches come and go, but none with the talent and knowledge of the game of softball as Stacey Nuveman Deniz," Van Wyk said. "Frankly I never anticipated she'd be here this long. She has been a hot commodity for years now. Her love and respect for this game as well as her love and respect for the players is what sets her apart. I feel fortunate to have both Stacey and (assistant coach) Mia (Longfellow) on this staff because of the type of people they are and what they stand for. Stacey agreeing to stay in San Diego and continue her career with this program is such a blessing and comfort for me and to this program."
Nuveman Deniz, who was hired at San Diego State following her stint with the U.S. team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, helped SDSU to seven straight NCAA tournaments from 2009-15 and a combined 370-248 (.599) record in her 12 seasons on The Mesa. Over her first nine seasons as an assistant and associate coach, the Aztecs improved their batting average from .275 in 2008 (the year before she arrived) to a school-record .356 mark in 2017, and also in runs per game (3.98 to 6.61), home runs per game (0.23 to 1.09 (0.92 in 2017)), slugging percentage (.348 to .516) and on-base percentage (.347 to .418).
In 2018, Nuveman Deniz was the head coach of the National Pro Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits, leading the team to the NPF Championship season series in her first year. In the spring of 2010, Nuveman Deniz served as an assistant coach for the Women's National Team Selection Camp, at the Canadian Open Fast Pitch Women's International Championship and at the World Cup of Softball VI. She was also named to the USA Softball Coaching Pool in 2014 and was an assistant coach at the USA Softball Junior Women's (19-Under) National Team (JWNT) Selection Camp in January 2015.
In addition to her two Olympic gold medals (2000 and 2004) and silver medal in 2008, Nuveman Deniz helped the United States National Team to a World Cup championship (2006), two World Championships (2002 and 2006) and two Pan American gold medals (1999 and 2003). Her 2004 Olympic gold medal team, meanwhile, was inducted into the U.S. Olympic hall of fame in July 2012.
Nuveman was a standout at UCLA, finishing her four-year career with four NCAA records - 90 home runs, .945 slugging percentage, 240 walks and 81 intentional walks. She was a four-time first-team NFCA All-American (1997, 1999, 2001-02) and a three-time Pac-10 Player of the Year (1999, 2001-02). Nuveman is also ranked first in school history in games played (264), total bases (653) and on-base percentage (.600).
Among the current all-time NCAA leaders, Nuveman ranks first in home runs per game (0.34), total bases (653) and intentional walks (81), second in slugging percentage (.945), third in home runs (90) and walks (240), fifth in RBIs (299) and seventh in batting average (.466).
In 1999, Nuveman led the Bruins to a national championship, batting .446 during the season with 31 home runs and 91 RBIs. For her efforts in the national title run, Nuveman was named to the all-Women's College World Series team. Nuveman Deniz was inducted into UCLA's hall of fame in October 2012.
Nuveman has worked at a variety of camps and clinics, and is highlighted in the instructional video entitled, "The Fundamentals of Catching." In addition, Nuveman has worked color commentary for ESPN, CSTV (now CBS Sports) and FOX Sports. In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Nuveman also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Nuveman graduated from UCLA in 2002 with a degree in sociology and public policy and later earned her master's in kinesiology from Texas Women's University in 2012.
San Diego State finished 17-11 last season and was 37th (out of 298 schools) in the initial RPI, which is a mathematical calculation used to help determine each team's success, using a calculated strength of schedule and won-loss percentage. The Aztecs, who have won a Mountain West-best seven regular-season championships in the 20-year history of the league, were supposed to play host to defending league champion Colorado State the weekend of March 13-15 before the NCAA canceled the rest of spring competition on March 12.
Next year, SDSU is slated to have Power 5 transfers Jenna Holcomb (Tennessee), Alyssa Pinto (Oregon/Ole Miss), Danielle Romanello (Florida) and Nicole Seiss (Mt. SAC/Purdue) join the program, and welcomes incoming freshmen Makena Brocki, Jeweliana Perez and Elianna Reyes. Additionally, seniors Shelby Thompson (four-time all-MW selection) and Marissa Moreno (2019 second-team all-MW pick) are coming back for a fifth season in 2021.