Les Stuedeman (center), a former All-American softball player for Huntingdon, is shown here with her sister, Vann, and President J. Cameron West during the 2013 Huntingdon Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Posted: Dec 10, 2014

Stuedeman inducted into NFCA Hall of Fame

LAS VEGAS – Former Huntingdon All-American and current University of Alabama-Huntsville head softball coach Les Stuedeman was recently inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Stuedeman was one of three coaches and one administrator inducted on Dec. 5. She was joined by NFCA Executive Director Lacy Lee Baker, SUNY Cortland head coach Julie Lenhart and Oklahoma City University head coach Phil McSpadden in the Class of 2014.

Stuedeman, who was inducted into the Huntingdon Hall of Fame in 2013, has compiled a record of 894-278-1 in 19 seasons as the head coach at UAH. In addition to averaging a little more than 47 wins a season, the Division II Chargers have never had a losing season under Stuedeman and have reached the NCAA Tournament 17 times.

This past season marked their 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Stuedeman has guided the Chargers to four South Region titles and finished as the national runner-up twice.

She has been named the Gulf South Conference Coach of the Year nine times and in 2010, she was named the GSC East Division Coach of the Decade. According to the NFCA, she is the third winningest active coach in Division II.

Before UAH, Stuedeman spent one season as the head coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School and two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of West Alabama.

As a player, she was a three-time All-District selection at catcher (1990, 1991 and 1992) for Huntingdon and an All-American in 1992.