Kristen Overton, Flagler's first head softball coach, concluded her ninth season in 2017, announcing her resignation on May 19, 2017. She finished with a 263-214 record.
She became the first fast-pitch softball coach in January 2008. In her first season (2009), she guided the Saints to an 18-31 overall record. In 2010,she guided the team to its first winning season (28-24) and a Peach Belt Conference Tournament berth. In 2011, the club won a record 42 games and made its first appearance in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
In 2012, the program made one more giant leap as it advanced all the way to the national championships for the first time. After winning the Super Regional at North Georgia, Flagler made its first appearance in the softball national championships, held at Louisville, Ky., where it posted an 0-2 record. The coaching staff was selected as the Southeast Region Staff of the Year.
In 2013, the team posted a 32-17 overall record and went 13-9 in conference play. Four players earned all-conference honors and four went on to earn Daktronics All-Region. Lauren Bessent earned her second consecutive NFCA All-Southeast Region honor.
Flagler posted its fifth .500 or better overall record in its sixth year as a varsity program in 2014. The Saints went 28-26 overall and placed five players on the all-conference team. Mackenzie Conley received PBC Freshman of the Year honors. She joined Bessent on the Daktronics All-Region team.
The 2017 marked a return to prominence as the Saints posted a 37-19 overall record and went 18-6 in conference play, the most wins since the Flagler joined the PBC in 2010. Ally Marcano earned consensus all-region honors while Whitney Woodard earned second-team all-region honors for the D2CCA. Four players were selected to the All-PBC team. Marcano was also named the Louisville Slugger D2 National Pitcher of the Week.
Under Overton, the Saints have produced 30 all-conference and three all-Independent selections as well as nine NFCA all-region honorees.
Overton guided the Saints through their first season in the Peach Belt with a 10-10 record. Flagler also won its first game against a ranked opponent when it defeated No. 15 Nova Southeastern 2-0 on Feb. 20. The Saints won four games that season against nationally ranked competition. Outfielder Brittney Hatem was named all-region and she and Kelly Riddick were selected to the all-conference second-team.
Overton came to Flagler after serving as an assistant coach at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., since July of 2006. She served under Head Coach Lesa Boneé,in 2007,as the Sharks finished with a 33-30 overall record and a 10-14 mark in the Sunshine State Conference.
Prior to working at Nova Southeastern, Overton served as an assistant coach at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla. She spent two seasons at IRCC working with outfielders and catchers. In her first season (2005), Overton helped coach The River to a NJCAA national runner-up finish and in 2006 IRCC posted a 61-14 record.
Overton graduated from the University of North Florida with a bachelor’s degree in communications in 2004. She received her master's in business administration from Florida Gulf Coast University, in Fort Myers, Fla., in the spring of 2012. She also lettered in softball as an outfielder and catcher for Head Coach Sonya Wilmoth all four years. The Ospreys posted a record of 169-46 (.786) during Overton’s four years as a player, including two Peach Belt Conference titles and four NCAA regional appearances. As a junior, she was selected to the NCAA All-South Atlantic Regional team. Overton also captained the Ospreys as a senior. Not only was she a great athlete, Overton excelled in the classroom. She was selected to the Peach Belt Conference’s Presidential Honor Roll all four years for her excellence in academics.
The former Kristen Atkinson was married in November of 2008 to Jim Overton. The couple reside in St. Augustine, with their son, Nolan, and daughter, Kira.
Milestone wins
#1 - at Florida Tech, Feb. 1, 2009
#50 - vs. Florida Tech, Feb. 6, 2011
#100 - vs. Saint Leo, Feb. 25, 2012
#150 - at Young Harris, March 29, 2013
#200 - vs. UNC Pembroke, April 12, 2015
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| Kristen Overton's Coaching Record |
| Year |
Overall
W-L |
Pct. |
Conf.
W-L |
Pct. |
| 2009 |
18-31 |
.367 |
- |
- |
| 2010 |
28-24 |
.538 |
10-10 |
.500 |
| 2011 |
42-18 |
.700 |
12-8 |
.600 |
| 2012 |
39-20 |
.661 |
11-9 |
.550 |
| 2013 |
32-17 |
.653 |
13-9 |
.591 |
| 2014 |
28-26 |
.519 |
13-9 |
.591 |
| 2015 |
15-34 |
.306 |
6-16 |
.273 |
| 2016 |
24-25 |
.490 |
9-15 |
.375 |
| 2017 |
37-19 |
.661 |
18-6 |
.750 |
| Overall |
263-214 |
.551 |
92-82 |
.529 |
