Softball Educator & NFCA Hall of Famer Cindy Bristow Returns to Coaching

One of the most influential figures in fastpitch softball over the last three decades, Cindy Bristow, announced on Tuesday that she would be accepting the position of Pitching Coach at UC Riverside beginning on October 5.

Bristow has an extensive background in coaching have been a head coach at New Mexico State and Wichita State on the college level as well as having been the head coach and Assistant General Manager of the Georgia Pride/Florida Wahoos in the Women’s Professional Softball League.

The former player at Cal Poly Pomona and later professionally with the Santa Ana Lionettes has done practically all there is to have done in the sport in additional to being a player and coach at the college and pro levels: she’s written and produced instructional books and videos, served as a leader for USA Softball JO and National teams, worked as a color analyst for ESPN college softball and co-founded the Softball Excellence online site specializing in softball education and instruction.

Fellow NFCA Hall of Fame member Sue Enquist, who won 11 national titles as a player and coach at UCLA, says of Bristow: “There is no individual in softball who is more respected and more knowledgeable than Cindy. Athletes ages 8 to 80 respect and value her experience and knowledge, she has done it all yet is so humble and curious about getting better!”

“She is the most respected individual regarding softball education in the game. Wow, UC Riverside scored big time!”

I am doing a big happy dance!!! Bristow Returns to College Coaching – Softball Excellence – Softball Training Anywhere https://t.co/m7nhOD1Sit via @CindyBristow

— Sue Enquist (@SueEnquist) September 25, 2018

Bristow has been based in the Tampa, Florida area for years and will relocate back to California because, as she stated on the Softball Excellence website, “Family was an import factor in my decision to make this change. Riverside is my home town, my Mom is 90 and this position gives me an incredible opportunity to return to the college game and spend some quality time with my Mom.”

The well-respected instructor, clinician and author will continue working with Softball Excellence in addition to her coaching duties and commented via the site: “I am very excited and honored to join the UC Riverside softball staff. I would like to thank head coach Nikki Palmer for her faith and confidence in giving me this opportunity and allowing me to continue my work with Softball Excellence.”

“I’m looking forward to getting back into college coaching, in my home town, surrounded by family. It’s a new chapter in my life that will only make me better and I’m excited to get started”.

Palmer commented about the hire of her new pitching coach in a release on the Highlanders’ site saying: “Coach Bristow brings a tremendous wealth of knowledge and years of experience to our program and will make an immediate impact. Her intelligence in the realm of pitching is going to take us to another level.”

“We will have a huge advantage with (her) calling the pitches for our team. She’s able to read hitters and pitchers at every level so I am fully confident she will be able to pick apart opposing batters very well.”

For more on Softball Excellence and a list of Cindy’s long list of accomplishments in the sport, click HERE.