CINDY BALL-MALONE

Head Coach, UCF Softball

The architect of the most successful seven-year period in the team’s history, eighth-year UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone continues to guide the program to new heights with each passing season.

Her resume includes 11 career seasons as an NCAA Division I head coach, seven postseason appearances, six NCAA Tournament berths and one NCAA Super Regional Appearance.

Under Ball-Malone’s leadership, the Knights can stake their claim as one of just 25 programs in the nation to have appeared in each of the last five NCAA Tournaments from 2021-25, and the Black and Gold in 2025 returned to an NCAA Regional Final for the first time since the program hosted, and won, the 2022 NCAA Orlando Regional to advance to the first NCAA Super Regional in program history.

Beyond the on-field results, Ball-Malone and her family look to stay engaged in their Orlando community in as many ways as possible. Since taking the reins prior to the 2019 season, she has established an annual Autism Awareness and Acceptance game for her program, a tradition that will reach its fourth year in 2026.

The observance not only looks to heighten understanding of, and acceptance for, those on the autism spectrum, but also enacts practices to actively engage members of the community with a silent first inning, sensory fidget toy giveaways, and other activities for young fans in attendance.

As the program continues to accrue winning results on and off the field, Ball-Malone and her staff look to keep building for a return to the NCAA Super Regionals – and beyond.

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