Stefni Lotief among the best ever

[Turbine]

2003 after three years as Lady Cajuns softball coach

Congratulations Stefni Lotief on your first 3 years as coach of the Lady Cajuns.

Only Bill Galloway's 176 wins from 1979-81 at Texas A&M, and Sue Enquist's 166 wins from 1989-91 at UCLA, top your near record start of 148 wins.

The thing I find interesting is Sue Enquist's start came under the tutoring of UCLA's long time coach Sharron Backus, as they were both considered head coach.

In Bill Galloway's case, he virtually had the softball world to himself at Texas A&M from 1979-81 as competition was scant. Today competition is anything but scant.

How you did it with no D1 head coaching experience, I will never know.

Lots of coaches have taken over successful programs and have not done what you have done. How you accomplished 51,50, and 47 wins in this day and age, right out of the gate is one for the annals.

Congratulations to you, Mike, staff and players.

In my vew your first 3 years are equal to the best starts in the history of softball coaching.

[California Cajun]

I think it's huge that more than one Louisiana coach took our softball program to the College World Series.

[Turbine]

Originally posted by California Cajun
I think it's huge that more than one Louisiana coach took our softball program to the College World Series.

Good point, the list of schools that can make that claim are few indeed.

[Turbine]

2004 after four years as Lady Cajuns softball coach

Congratulations Stefni on already surpassing last years win total. (48 vs. 47) UNBELIVEABLE

And for going after another 50 win season this weekend. This would make it 3 out of 4, with the only non 50 win season being a World Series year. WOW

While the NCAA does not start counting career coaching records till the 5th year is on the books, it is incredible what Stefni Lotief has done thus far into her 4th year.

As of today Coach Stefni has a career winning percentage of .831 which ties her for second best all-time (4-year-record) with Sue Enquist (UCLA 1989-2000) and only one-thousandth of a percentage point behind Sharron Backus (UCLA 1976-96) at .832

In a way she only trails a combined entity because from 89-96 Sue Enquist and Sharron Backus were co-head coaches. Not unlike Stefni and Michael Lotief are now. They both get credit by the NCAA.

Geaux Lady Cajuns

Source NCAA DATA

[NewsCopy]

2005 after five years as Lady Cajuns softball coach

With the NCAA mandated five year threshold behind her Stefni Lotief has officially jumped into the top five winning percentage list of Softball coaches in NCAA history. Her programs 259 wins, 52 losses and zero ties, combine to produce an overall winning percentage of .833 which is good enough to rank third all-time in NCAA history *.

Winningest Softball Coaches in NCAA History 5 years Minimum.

COACH	SCHOOL	Winning Percentage
Mike Candrea	Arizona	.835
Sue Enquist	UCLA	.834
Stefni Lotief	LOUISIANA	.833
JoAnne Graf	Florida State	.760
Yvette Girouard	LSU	.757

* active coaches

[CajunCharlie]

With the NCAA mandated five year threshold behind her Stefni Lotief has officially jumped into the top five winning percentage list of Softball coaches in NCAA history. Her programs 259 wins, 52 losses and zero ties, combine to produce an overall winning percentage of .833 which is good enough to rank third all-time in NCAA history.

That is great! Nice lady who has continued to build a great program. Geaux Stefni!!

[Geaux clotille]

She's great! I love her and she's a great Momma too!

[LuLu]

WOW, if that isn't fantastic, nothing is! Has anyone ever made the record books at such a high level in such a short number of years?

[RaginFan2]

With the NCAA mandated five year threshold behind her Stefni Lotief has officially jumped into the top five winning percentage list of Softball coaches in NCAA history. Her programs 259 wins, 52 losses and zero ties, combine to produce an overall winning percentage of .833 which is good enough to rank third all-time in NCAA history.

Anyone notice that 2 of the top 5 all-time winningest coaches have Ragin' Cajuns ties? WOW! Way to go, Stefni! A tip of the cap to Yvette, too.

[Diapason]

The sign of a finely tuned program. Congratulations Stefni and Mike.

[DaddyCajun]

She's great! I love her and she's a great Momma too!

Ditto!!!!!! I am currently waiting on a call back from Stefni on a project she and Mike have going. I understand that the brick wall down the lines is under construction!!!!!!!!!! WOW!!!!!!!!


DaddyCajun!!

[Diapason]

259 wins, 52 losses and zero ties, combine to produce an overall winning percentage of .833 which is good enough to rank third all-time in NCAA history *.

* active coaches

Stefni Lotief is doing an unbelievable job.