San Diego State’s Stacey Nuveman Deniz has been named the softball head coach, director of athletics John David Wicker announced on June 8, 2021. A three-time U.S. Olympian, Nuveman Deniz is just the fifth head coach in program history after spending the last 13 seasons with the Aztecs as an assistant, associate head coach and head coach in waiting under SDSU’s all-time winningest coach Kathy Van Wyk.
“I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to lead San Diego State Softball into the future,” Nuveman Deniz said. “Kathy Van Wyk spent 25 years building this program, and now it is my turn to take the reins and continue that growth. I would like to thank (SDSU director of athletics) John David Wicker for this opportunity and for the unwavering support he has shown me. The University, the city of San Diego and our incredible community have captured my heart and I truly am an Aztec for Life. I can’t wait to get started.”
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 398-264 (.601) record in her 13 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).
Nuveman Deniz has served as the recruiting coordinator and the hitting instructor prior to being named head coach. Nuveman Deniz was promoted to assistant head coach from an assistant coach in 2010 and was moved to associate head coach in 2013.
In addition to her two Olympic gold medals (2000 and 2004) and silver medal in 2008, Nuveman Deniz has 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).
Recently, Nuveman Deniz was named head coach of the National Pro Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits for the 2018 season. She led the Bandits to the NPF Championship series in her first year.
Her 2004 Olympic gold medal team, meanwhile, was inducted into the U.S. Olympic hall of fame in July 2012, while Nuveman Deniz was inducted into the UCLA hall of fame in October 2012.
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 a season stopped early because of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2020, Sara Lillie was leading the team with a .290 average in her first season after transferring from Oregon State. Shelby Thompson, meanwhile, was leading the Aztecs in runs (21), triples (3), home runs (4), RBIs (15, tied), walks (14), times hit by pitch (7), slugging percentage (.519) and on-base percentage (.417).
In 2019, Thompson earned first-team all-Mountain West honors for a third straight season after batting .403 in league play and .336 overall. Two other players - Taylor Adams (.327) and Molly Sturdivant (.306) - also hit over .300 with Adams landing on the MW second team and Sturdivant on the all-NFCA West Region third team.
In 2018, Thompson picked up first-team all-MW accolades for a second straight season after batting .347 in league play with five homers, 15 RBIs, 20 runs and five stolen bases in 24 games.
In 2017, SDSU led the country with a .356 average, shattering their previous best of .310. In all, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average, on-base percentage (.418), slugging percentage (.516), hits (497), RBIs (295), sacrifice flies (23) and runs (324, tied).
Jenavee Peres led the way in 2017 for San Diego State, easily breaking the previous school record batting average of a .429 batting average with her .454 and tied a SDSU best with five sac flies. She also ranked second in school single-season history in slugging percentage, RBIs and OPS percentage (1.332), third in runs and total bases, fourth in on-base percentage, tied for fourth in extra-base hits (29), fifth in hits and home runs, and tied for seventh in times hit by pitch (5). Peres was named a NFCA Second-Team All-American for her efforts, the first time San Diego State has ever had a player on the second team (Aztecs' previous three NFCA All-America selections were third-team picks). She was also a first-team all-NFCA West Region honoree, the Mountain West Player of the Year and a first-team all-MW selection.
Joining Peres on the all-conference first team in 2017 were Sydnee Cable (.371, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 23 R, 8 2B, 9 BB), Zaria Meshack (.415, 34 R, 61 H, .459 OB%, 7 SB), Sturdivant (.381, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 25 R, 14 2B, 30 BB, .664 SLG%, .482 OB%) and Thompson (.333, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 26 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 20 BB, 6 SB, .556 SLG%, .434 OB%). Thompson was also the MW?Freshman of the Year. Katie Byrd (.361, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 42 R, 16 2B, .519 SLG%, .428 OB%) made the second team as well.
Byrd, Meshack, Sturdivant and Taylor Stewart (.340, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, 7 2B, 19 BB, .462 SLG%, .430%) also earned second-team all-NFCA West Region accolades, while Cable was a third-team selection. SDSU's six all-region selections were a program record.
In 2016, San Diego State missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007, despite posting a 30-22 record.
Samantha Camello led the way with a .359 average to go along with 13 doubles, two triples, two homers, 25 RBIs, 32 run, 12 walks, five stolen bases, a .486 slugging percentage and a .400 on-base percentage. For her efforts, she was chosen as a first-team all-MW selection and also became the first Aztec softball player ever to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-America pick after earning second-team honors. She was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first-team pick, posting a 3.98 cumulative GPA. Cable also earned second-team all-MW honors.
Peres, a catcher like Nuveman Deniz was during her playing career, also had a solid overall season, batting .451 with nine homers, 23 RBIs, 26 runs, four doubles and a triple, logging a .915 slugging percentage and a .535 on-base mark. However, Peres missed 25 games with a concussion, sprained ankle and a fractured fibula.
In 2015, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average (.310), slugging percentage (.486), runs (324), home runs (63), RBIs (293), total bases (758) and hits (484).
SDSU had three offensive players named all-NFCA West Region, including Kayla Jordan (.414, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 63 R) and Peres (.347, 9 HR, 48 RBI) on the second team, and Lorena Bauer (.415, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 15 2B) on the third team.
Jordan (63 runs) and Bauer (67 RBIs) each set respective season records as well and were joined by Peres as all-MW first-team picks. Bauer (.519, 13 HR, 37 RBI in league play) and Peres (.384, 5 HR, 26 RBI) were named the MW Player and Freshman of the Year, respectively.
In 2014, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.397), runs (301), hits (467), RBIs (270), walks (226) and times hit by pitch (30). The Aztecs went onto to finish 40-19, winning their third straight MW championship at 16-8.
SDSU had three players named all-NFCA West Region, including Patrice Jackson (.338, 17 HR, 49 RBI) on the first team and Cable (.356, 1 HR, 32 RBI) on the third team. Jackson set three school records, including on-base percentage (.523), RBIs (49, tied) and walks (59), while Cable was hit by a pitch a program-best 14 times.
Jaylene Ignacio (.322, 5 HR, 17 RBI) and Jackson (.339, 5 HR, 16 RBI) also earned all-MW first-team honors (stats are for league games only) in the first year that the league had a first and second team, while Dominique Dinner (.391, 1 HR, 15 RBI) and Katie Mathis (.355, 0 HR, 10 RBI) each garnered second-team accolades.
In 2013, San Diego State batted .290 with 45 home runs, 67 doubles and 13 triples as the Aztecs finished with a 36-20 record and 13-5 Mountain West mark.
Nuveman Deniz helped Bauer (first team) and Jackson (second-team) earn Easton All-American honors. Bauer hit a team-high .401 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs, while Jackson hit .366 with a team-high 18 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Bauer (first team), Jackson (first team) and Kamerin May (second team) (.305, 3 HR, 24 RBI) also earned all-NFCA West Region honors. Additionally, Jackson was named the MW Player of the Year and joined Bauer on the all-conference team.
In 2012, SDSU set five school records, including slugging percentage (.466), doubles (79), home runs (58), RBIs (237) and total bases (692).
Under Nuveman Deniz' tutelage, sophomore Hayley Miles was named a third-team NFCA All-American after shattering 11 single-season school records and setting five career records after just two seasons. Some of the records weren't even close, such as batting average (.429, previous best was .389), on-base percentage (.519, previous best was .467), slugging percentage (.909, previous best was .633), OPS percentage (1.428, previous best was 1.053), runs (62, previous best was 41), extra-base hits (42, previous best was 25), doubles (20, previous best was 14), home runs (20, previous best was 15), RBIs (49, previous best was 48), total bases (159, previous best was 102) and walks (34, previous best was 28).
Other offensive players who made the all-conference team were Justeen Maeva (.327, 7 HR, 42 RBI), Jordan (.324, 14 RBI, 12 SB) and Jackson (.311, 11 HR, 39 RBI).
In 2011, the Aztecs set six program records, including slugging percentage (.440), runs (266), doubles (74), home runs (42), RBIs (236) and total bases (630) (all which were eclipsed in 2012).
San Diego State, which hit .284 as a team, also put Maeva (.348, 7 HR, 39 RBI), Jessica Camello (.321) and Miles (.344, 5 HR, 29 RBI) on the all-conference team.
In 2010, SDSU hit .294 as a team, its highest average since the program's record setting year in 2007 (.296). The squad hit 25 home runs in 2010, one less than the team hit the two previous years combined.
Camello hit .387, the then third-highest average in school history, after batting .257 (2007) and .248 (2008) in her first two seasons on The Mesa. Meanwhile, senior Brittany Knudsen (.384, 34 R, 27 RBI) and Maeva (.362, 4 HR, 36 RBI) each were honored as NFCA All-Far West Region selections and all-Mountain West picks.
In her first season as the hitting coach in 2009, San Diego State had three .300 hitters, led by senior Erin Floros. Floros batted .357 with four home runs and 30 RBIs, despite missing 14 of the team's 53 games with an injury. Floros earned all-league recognition and was joined by senior Tonye McCorkle (.319) and Knudsen (.317, 13 2B).
Nuveman Deniz was hired at SDSU following her stint with the U.S. team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Nuveman Deniz has worked at a variety of camps and clinics, and is highlighted in the instructional video entitled, "The Fundamentals of Catching." In addition, Nuveman Deniz has worked color commentary for ESPN, CSTV (now CBS Sports) and FOX Sports.
Nuveman Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz was named to the all-Women's College World Series team.
In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Nuveman Deniz also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Nuveman Deniz 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.
Nuveman Deniz is married to Mark Deniz, and two sons - Chase and Dylan.
“I am humbled and honored to have this opportunity to lead San Diego State Softball into the future,” Nuveman Deniz said. “Kathy Van Wyk spent 25 years building this program, and now it is my turn to take the reins and continue that growth. I would like to thank (SDSU director of athletics) John David Wicker for this opportunity and for the unwavering support he has shown me. The University, the city of San Diego and our incredible community have captured my heart and I truly am an Aztec for Life. I can’t wait to get started.”
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 398-264 (.601) record in her 13 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).
Nuveman Deniz has served as the recruiting coordinator and the hitting instructor prior to being named head coach. Nuveman Deniz was promoted to assistant head coach from an assistant coach in 2010 and was moved to associate head coach in 2013.
In addition to her two Olympic gold medals (2000 and 2004) and silver medal in 2008, Nuveman Deniz has 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).
Recently, Nuveman Deniz was named head coach of the National Pro Fastpitch's Chicago Bandits for the 2018 season. She led the Bandits to the NPF Championship series in her first year.
Her 2004 Olympic gold medal team, meanwhile, was inducted into the U.S. Olympic hall of fame in July 2012, while Nuveman Deniz was inducted into the UCLA hall of fame in October 2012.
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 a season stopped early because of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in 2020, Sara Lillie was leading the team with a .290 average in her first season after transferring from Oregon State. Shelby Thompson, meanwhile, was leading the Aztecs in runs (21), triples (3), home runs (4), RBIs (15, tied), walks (14), times hit by pitch (7), slugging percentage (.519) and on-base percentage (.417).
In 2019, Thompson earned first-team all-Mountain West honors for a third straight season after batting .403 in league play and .336 overall. Two other players - Taylor Adams (.327) and Molly Sturdivant (.306) - also hit over .300 with Adams landing on the MW second team and Sturdivant on the all-NFCA West Region third team.
In 2018, Thompson picked up first-team all-MW accolades for a second straight season after batting .347 in league play with five homers, 15 RBIs, 20 runs and five stolen bases in 24 games.
In 2017, SDSU led the country with a .356 average, shattering their previous best of .310. In all, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average, on-base percentage (.418), slugging percentage (.516), hits (497), RBIs (295), sacrifice flies (23) and runs (324, tied).
Jenavee Peres led the way in 2017 for San Diego State, easily breaking the previous school record batting average of a .429 batting average with her .454 and tied a SDSU best with five sac flies. She also ranked second in school single-season history in slugging percentage, RBIs and OPS percentage (1.332), third in runs and total bases, fourth in on-base percentage, tied for fourth in extra-base hits (29), fifth in hits and home runs, and tied for seventh in times hit by pitch (5). Peres was named a NFCA Second-Team All-American for her efforts, the first time San Diego State has ever had a player on the second team (Aztecs' previous three NFCA All-America selections were third-team picks). She was also a first-team all-NFCA West Region honoree, the Mountain West Player of the Year and a first-team all-MW selection.
Joining Peres on the all-conference first team in 2017 were Sydnee Cable (.371, 6 HR, 43 RBI, 23 R, 8 2B, 9 BB), Zaria Meshack (.415, 34 R, 61 H, .459 OB%, 7 SB), Sturdivant (.381, 8 HR, 45 RBI, 25 R, 14 2B, 30 BB, .664 SLG%, .482 OB%) and Thompson (.333, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 26 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, 20 BB, 6 SB, .556 SLG%, .434 OB%). Thompson was also the MW?Freshman of the Year. Katie Byrd (.361, 3 HR, 35 RBI, 42 R, 16 2B, .519 SLG%, .428 OB%) made the second team as well.
Byrd, Meshack, Sturdivant and Taylor Stewart (.340, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 12 R, 7 2B, 19 BB, .462 SLG%, .430%) also earned second-team all-NFCA West Region accolades, while Cable was a third-team selection. SDSU's six all-region selections were a program record.
In 2016, San Diego State missed the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2007, despite posting a 30-22 record.
Samantha Camello led the way with a .359 average to go along with 13 doubles, two triples, two homers, 25 RBIs, 32 run, 12 walks, five stolen bases, a .486 slugging percentage and a .400 on-base percentage. For her efforts, she was chosen as a first-team all-MW selection and also became the first Aztec softball player ever to be named a CoSIDA Academic All-America pick after earning second-team honors. She was also a CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 first-team pick, posting a 3.98 cumulative GPA. Cable also earned second-team all-MW honors.
Peres, a catcher like Nuveman Deniz was during her playing career, also had a solid overall season, batting .451 with nine homers, 23 RBIs, 26 runs, four doubles and a triple, logging a .915 slugging percentage and a .535 on-base mark. However, Peres missed 25 games with a concussion, sprained ankle and a fractured fibula.
In 2015, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average (.310), slugging percentage (.486), runs (324), home runs (63), RBIs (293), total bases (758) and hits (484).
SDSU had three offensive players named all-NFCA West Region, including Kayla Jordan (.414, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 63 R) and Peres (.347, 9 HR, 48 RBI) on the second team, and Lorena Bauer (.415, 19 HR, 67 RBI, 15 2B) on the third team.
Jordan (63 runs) and Bauer (67 RBIs) each set respective season records as well and were joined by Peres as all-MW first-team picks. Bauer (.519, 13 HR, 37 RBI in league play) and Peres (.384, 5 HR, 26 RBI) were named the MW Player and Freshman of the Year, respectively.
In 2014, San Diego State set seven school records, including batting average (.301), on-base percentage (.397), runs (301), hits (467), RBIs (270), walks (226) and times hit by pitch (30). The Aztecs went onto to finish 40-19, winning their third straight MW championship at 16-8.
SDSU had three players named all-NFCA West Region, including Patrice Jackson (.338, 17 HR, 49 RBI) on the first team and Cable (.356, 1 HR, 32 RBI) on the third team. Jackson set three school records, including on-base percentage (.523), RBIs (49, tied) and walks (59), while Cable was hit by a pitch a program-best 14 times.
Jaylene Ignacio (.322, 5 HR, 17 RBI) and Jackson (.339, 5 HR, 16 RBI) also earned all-MW first-team honors (stats are for league games only) in the first year that the league had a first and second team, while Dominique Dinner (.391, 1 HR, 15 RBI) and Katie Mathis (.355, 0 HR, 10 RBI) each garnered second-team accolades.
In 2013, San Diego State batted .290 with 45 home runs, 67 doubles and 13 triples as the Aztecs finished with a 36-20 record and 13-5 Mountain West mark.
Nuveman Deniz helped Bauer (first team) and Jackson (second-team) earn Easton All-American honors. Bauer hit a team-high .401 with 13 homers and 49 RBIs, while Jackson hit .366 with a team-high 18 home runs and 48 RBIs.
Bauer (first team), Jackson (first team) and Kamerin May (second team) (.305, 3 HR, 24 RBI) also earned all-NFCA West Region honors. Additionally, Jackson was named the MW Player of the Year and joined Bauer on the all-conference team.
In 2012, SDSU set five school records, including slugging percentage (.466), doubles (79), home runs (58), RBIs (237) and total bases (692).
Under Nuveman Deniz' tutelage, sophomore Hayley Miles was named a third-team NFCA All-American after shattering 11 single-season school records and setting five career records after just two seasons. Some of the records weren't even close, such as batting average (.429, previous best was .389), on-base percentage (.519, previous best was .467), slugging percentage (.909, previous best was .633), OPS percentage (1.428, previous best was 1.053), runs (62, previous best was 41), extra-base hits (42, previous best was 25), doubles (20, previous best was 14), home runs (20, previous best was 15), RBIs (49, previous best was 48), total bases (159, previous best was 102) and walks (34, previous best was 28).
Other offensive players who made the all-conference team were Justeen Maeva (.327, 7 HR, 42 RBI), Jordan (.324, 14 RBI, 12 SB) and Jackson (.311, 11 HR, 39 RBI).
In 2011, the Aztecs set six program records, including slugging percentage (.440), runs (266), doubles (74), home runs (42), RBIs (236) and total bases (630) (all which were eclipsed in 2012).
San Diego State, which hit .284 as a team, also put Maeva (.348, 7 HR, 39 RBI), Jessica Camello (.321) and Miles (.344, 5 HR, 29 RBI) on the all-conference team.
In 2010, SDSU hit .294 as a team, its highest average since the program's record setting year in 2007 (.296). The squad hit 25 home runs in 2010, one less than the team hit the two previous years combined.
Camello hit .387, the then third-highest average in school history, after batting .257 (2007) and .248 (2008) in her first two seasons on The Mesa. Meanwhile, senior Brittany Knudsen (.384, 34 R, 27 RBI) and Maeva (.362, 4 HR, 36 RBI) each were honored as NFCA All-Far West Region selections and all-Mountain West picks.
In her first season as the hitting coach in 2009, San Diego State had three .300 hitters, led by senior Erin Floros. Floros batted .357 with four home runs and 30 RBIs, despite missing 14 of the team's 53 games with an injury. Floros earned all-league recognition and was joined by senior Tonye McCorkle (.319) and Knudsen (.317, 13 2B).
Nuveman Deniz was hired at SDSU following her stint with the U.S. team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Nuveman Deniz has worked at a variety of camps and clinics, and is highlighted in the instructional video entitled, "The Fundamentals of Catching." In addition, Nuveman Deniz has worked color commentary for ESPN, CSTV (now CBS Sports) and FOX Sports.
Nuveman Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz 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 Deniz was named to the all-Women's College World Series team.
In addition to her on-field accomplishments, Nuveman Deniz also works with several organizations, including the Visalia Miracle League, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Nuveman Deniz 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.
Nuveman Deniz is married to Mark Deniz, and two sons - Chase and Dylan.