Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Softball
- Title:
- Director of Operations and Player Development / Recruiting Coordinator
- Email:
- pestrak@okstate.edu
- Phone:
- (405) 744-4655
Stacie Pestrak is entering her sixth year working for the Oklahoma State softball program under head coach Kenny Gajewski. She spent the first four as an assistant coach, then moved into the role of director of operations in 2020.
Under Pestrak’s leadership, Oklahoma State has developed the fundamentals on the basepaths, in the outfield and elsewhere to compete with the nation’s best. She was a key part in the transition of former OSU standout Tiffany Mikkelson to the outfield after she had played third the previous three seasons.
Under her watch, Mikkelson turned into one of the best defensive outfielders in the conference and shined at the plate with 11 home runs on her way to becoming the Oklahoma State all-time leader for home runs with 35.
Pestrak also helped Taylor Lynch transition to the outfield in 2017, as the sophomore continued to build on her incredibly productive freshman campaign. Another notable pupil of the Cowgirls’ assistant coach was Maddi Holcomb, who became known for making the most difficult of plays look easy in the outfield.
Pestrak joined the Oklahoma State staff on June 29, 2015, after serving as a volunteer assistant coach with Florida for the previous two seasons. Along with Gajewski, Pestrak was instrumental in the Gators’ success, guiding the team to its second-consecutive national championship. She also played for the Gators for two years (2005-06), and returned to Gainesville after spending 2013 as an assistant coach at the University of Buffalo.
As a player, Pestrak helped the Gators to two-straight NCAA Tournament appearances and earned a spot on the 2006 SEC academic honor roll. The utility player was a junior college All-America selection in 2004 at Santa Fe College prior to arriving in Gainesville. She also earned the Florida Community College Athletic Association’s Jean Williams scholar-athlete Award and was a two-time academic all-state selection.
Following her Gator playing career, Pestrak spent two years in the National Pro Fastpitch League with the Philadelphia Force before beginning her coaching career at Northwestern State, where she helped the Demons go from a five-win season in 2009 to a 27-win campaign in 2010. One season later, Northwestern State won 32 games. She was responsible for player skill development for defense (infield and outfield), base running and bunting, while assisting in the development of hitting, conditioning and game strategy.
