Email coach
Stacey Vallee
Stacey Vallee is entering her 20th season as head coach for the Patriot women's softball program. She has compiled a 553-360-1 record in her first 19 seasons on the Patriot bench, including ten 30-win campaigns and four NCAA Tournament appearances.
Vallee also serves as Francis Marion's Senior Women's Administrator, and the university's Athletics Diversity and Inclusion Designee
COACH VALLEE'S TWITTER
She is currently serving as chairman of the NCAA Division II Regional Advisory Committe (RAC) for the Southeast Region, and has been on the committee since 2014. Since 2016, she has also served as a member of the National Committee for Division II softball. She previously served a two-year stint on the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll committee from 2013 to 2014, and was an NCAA regional committee member for the former South Atlantic Region from 2005 to 2009.
This past season, she led the Patriots to a 42-13 record -- equaling the program record for wins in a season -- and to FMU's fourth NCAA Tournament appearance, and second consecutive. Francis Marion captured the Conference Carolinas Tournament title and Vallee was a named a finalist for The Leadership Playbook 2022-23 Coach of the Year award.
In 2022, FMU finished 33-22 and reached the title game of the Conference Carolinas Tournament in the program's first year as a member. The Patriots also secured their third-ever NCAA Tournament invitation. Vallee directed Francis Marion to a 24-3 record in 2020 prior to the season being shuttered due to the covid-19 pandemic. It was the squad's best start since the 2003 campaign, and the Patriots earned votes in the NFCA Top 25 poll prior to the shutdown.
FMU SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
The 2023 team went 42-13, equaling the program record for wins in a season, and led the nation (all NCAA Divisions) in scoring with 8.33 runs per game. FMU won the Conference Carolinas Tiurnament championship and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row.
The 2022 squad went 33-22, advanced to the Conference Carolinas Tournament championship game, and earned the program's third-ever bid to the NCAA II Tournament. The Patriots ranked 38th nationally in total runs scored
The 2019 team posted a 12-win improvement over the previous season, the 18th all-time 30-win campaign in team history; senior third baseman Angela Buccilli led the nation in sacrifice hits
Her 2016 squad posted a 34-21 mark, its highest win total in seven seasons and the 17th all-time 30-win season in program history.
In 2013, the first full season in the state-of-the-art FMU Softball Stadium, the Patriots posted a 25-26 mark. Nine of the team's losses were by one run, and the squad compiled a 3-4 record against nationally ranked opponents.
In 2012, Francis Marion registered a 31-20 mark, the program’s twelfth 30-win campaign in the previous 15 seasons
Francis Marion compiled a 36-16 record in 2010 and earned the program’s second NCAA Division II National Tournament invitation. The Patriots advanced to the championship game of both the Peach Belt Conference Tournament and the NCAA Dahlonega Southeast Regional.
In 2008, Vallee guided the Patriots to their most successful season since the program moved from NAIA affiliation to NCAA Division II membership. Francis Marion ended the season ranked fifth in the final NFCA Top 25 poll with a 39-16 record, the third-highest win total in team history. The Patriots earned their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division II national tournament, won the South Atlantic Regional, and advanced to the Division II national finals (Elite Eight) in Houston, Texas. The season also featured the program's first-ever appearance on national television (CBS College Sports).
In 2007, she directed FMU to a 34-16 record and a tie for fifth-place in the Peach Belt Conference regular-season standings. For a third time in three years under her guidance, the Patriots narrowly missed earning a bid to the Division II Tournament.
During a successful first season (2005) at FMU, she guided the Patriots to a 36-14 record and a fifth-place finish during the Peach Belt regular season. Six of the Patriots' 10 losses were by one run. The 2005 team spent three weeks ranked in the NFCA Top 25 poll, reaching as high as the 10th.
Her 19 FMU teams have produced 37 All-Conference selections, 17 All-Region selections, two NFCA All-America selections, and 119 NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes. Her 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2018, and 2021 squads each earned All-Academic Team honors from the NFCA. In 2007 the Patriots ranked 10th among Division II programs (and 22nd among all four-year schools) with a 3.470 cumulative grade-point average; in 2008 ranked 14th in Division II with a 3.36 GPA, and in 2009 ranked 24th in Division II with a 3.329 GPA.
Vallee came to Francis Marion in 2004 from Saint Leo University, a member of the NCAA Division II Sunshine State Conference, where she spent four seasons as an assistant coach. The Lions posted a 135-88 mark during those four years, including a national tournament appearance in 2002. She also served as the university's assistant trainer and taught as an instructor during the 2003-04 year, and worked as an assistant strength and conditioning coach for two seasons.
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Vallee was as an assistant coach at Florissant Valley Community College during the fall of 2000, after having served as player/head coach of the Pulheim Gophers during the spring and summer of 2000.
A 1999 graduate of Barry University with a B.S. degree in sports medicine and athletic training, she was a four-year starter at third base. She helped lead the Buccaneers to the NCAA Division II national tournament each of her four years, including a second-place finish in 1998. She ended her career third on the school's games played list.
She was married during the summer of 2006, and she and husband Greg have a son (Ryker) and daughter (Moxie).
Vallee is a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, the National Council on Strength and Fitness, and the National Athletic Trainers Association. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist, a certified personal trainer, and a certified athletic trainer.
She participated as a panel member at the third-annual Women in Athletics Seminar, hosted by the Peach Belt Conference in Augusta, Ga., on Sept. 21, 2010.
Vallee is the ninth head coach in the 45-year history of the FMU softball program. The program boasts an all-time mark of 1274-824-4 (.607 winning percentage), including five national tournament appearances in the 1980s and the four in the 2000s.
Overall, FMU has won at least 30 games in 17 of the past 28 seasons.
show more