Former Softball: Stefni Lotief Honored with 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award

LAFAYETTE, La. — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association recently honored former head softball coach Stefni Lotief with the 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award.
 
The award is the highest honor bestowed upon an alum by the Association. It recognizes outstanding professional and personal achievements that have brought honor and distinction to the university. To be eligible for it, a person must be a UL Lafayette graduate or former student who attended no less than 10 years ago.
 
Lotief spent 12 seasons as head coach of the perennially ranked Ragin’ Cajuns’ softball program – the past 10 as co-head coach alongside her husband, Michael Lotief.
 
“Stef’s journey at UL has been a true love affair,” said head softball coach Michael Lotief. “Obviously it’s been her passion to contribute to this University as a student-athlete, then as a teacher/administrator, and then eventually as a coach. Her successes are well documented and a tribute to her values of hard work and pursuing excellence and making a difference in others’ lives. It should also be known that this University and its people have had a profound impact on shaping us, and making us believe in big possibilities and pushing us to even higher heights. At her core, Stefni is a Ragin’ Cajun and we are all so proud that throughout she has been on our team.”
 
Lotief was recognized during a reception on Nov. 16 at the UL Lafayette Alumni Center on E. St. Mary Boulevard.
 
As a coach, she strengthened a program that she helped bring to prominence as an athlete. She was an All-American pitcher for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1987-1990. Lotief became head coach in 2001.
 
In that leadership role, she guided the Ragin’ Cajuns to nine NCAA regional championship games, three Super Regionals and two Women’s College World Series appearances. The first World Series appearance was in 2003, Lotief’s third year as coach. Louisiana defeated No. 1 national seed Florida in the series’ opening game.
 
 Lotief garnered Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year honors six times and Louisiana Coach of the Year honors five times. The Ragin’ Cajuns dominated the Sun Belt Conference during her tenure. They won the conference’s regular season and postseason tournament titles in 11 of 12 seasons. UL Lafayette’s record against league foes in regular season play was 207-38. Her Ragin’ Cajuns notched the only perfect record in SBC league play in history when they went 18-0 in 2004.
 
Academics were always a top priority for Lotief’s program. All told, Lotief coached 144 All-Sun-Belt Academic honorees.
 
She helped mold 10 players into All-Americans. She also coached 81 All-Sun Belt Conference Athletes, nine conference players of the year, 10 pitchers of the year and seven freshmen of the year.
 
As a player, she won 78 games as a pitcher from 1987-90. She was the team’s first All-American in 1989. She excelled in the classroom as well, being named the GTE Academic All-American of the Year in Softball.
 
She graduated from UL Lafayette in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and later earned a master’s of business administration degree.
 
In July 2012, after leading the program to 601 victories over 12 seasons, Lotief stepped down as co-head coach to devote more time to her family. She remains with the program as a volunteer assistant coach.
 

Source:  www.ragincajuns.com