Cindy Ball-Malone

Last updated
Cindy Ball-Malone
Current position
TitleHead coach
Team UCF
Conference Big 12
Record216–105–2 (.672)
Biographical details
Alma mater Pacific
Playing career
1999−2002 Pacific
Position(s) Pitcher
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002−2006 Pacific (asst.)
2007 Modesto Junior College
2008−2010 Cosumnes River College
2011−2012 Washington (asst.)
2013−2014 Cal State Northridge (asst.)
2015−2018 Boise State
2019–Present UCF
Head coaching record
Overall315–221–2 (.587)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
  • MWC Regular Season Championship (2018)
  • AAC Regular Season Champions (2022)
  • 2× AAC Tournament Champions (2022, 2023)
Awards
As player
  • 2× Big West Pitcher of the Year (2001, 2002)
  • 2× Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I Third Team All-American (2001, 2002)
  • Verizon Academic All-America First Team (2002)
  • All-Big West Second Team (1999)
  • 3× All-Big West First Team (2000, 2001, 2002)
  • 2× NFCA All-West Region First Team (2001, 2002)
  • NFCA All-West Region Second Team (2000)
As coach
  • MWC Coach of the Year (2018)
  • AAC Coaching Staff of the Year (2022)
  • Extra Innings Softball National Coach of the Year (2022)
  • NFCA Mideast Region Coaching Staff of the Year (2022)

Cindy Ball-Malone is an American softball coach who is the current head coach at UCF. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Ball-Malone graduated from the University of the Pacific in 2002 with a bachelor's degree in sports sciences and earned her master's in education in 2006. She played softball, volleyball, and basketball in middle school and high school with famed Stanford and USA softball player, Jessica Mendoza. [2]

Coaching career

Boise State

On August 29, 2014, Ball-Malone was announced as the new head coach of the Boise State softball program. [3]

UCF

On June 27, 2018, Ball-Malone was announced as the new head coach of the UCF softball program. [4] [5] [6] The 2022 season, under Ball-Malone, UCF won a conference regular season and tournament title. Central Florida would also advance to their first ever NCAA Super Regional after downing Michigan in the Orlando Regional Final. [7] [8] Following the successful 2022 season, Ball-Malone's contract was extended through 2027 on July 22 of 2022. [9] [10] She has also been tasked with continuing the program's success in a new conference in 2024, after UCF agreed to a move to join the Big 12 Conference. [11]

Team USA

On March 4, 2019, Ball-Malone was selected to serve as an assistant coach for the USA Junior National Team. [12] [13]

Honors and personal life

Ball-Malone was inducted into the Pacific Hall of Fame in 2014. She had had her jersey No. 9 retired by the school as well. [14]

On February 10, 2023, Ball-Malone was Pacific's honoree in the 2023 West Coast Conference Hall of Honor. She is labeled as the best two-way player in program history. [15] [16]

Ball-Malone is married to Robert Malone III. [17]

Head coaching record

Sources: [18] [19]

College

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Boise State Broncos (Mountain West Conference)(2015–2018)
2015 Boise State 12–424–209th
2016 Boise State 14–386–189th
2017 Boise State 33–2012–126th
2018 Boise State 40–1618–61st
Boise State:99–116 (.460)40–56 (.417)
UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference)(2019–2023)
2019 UCF 34–2111–105th
2020 UCF 21–5–10–0Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 UCF 41–19–116–7–13rd NCAA Regional
2022 UCF 49–1416–21st NCAA Super Regional
2023 UCF 40–2115–32nd NCAA Regional
UCF Knights (Big 12 Conference)(2024–Present)
2024 UCF 31–2512–155th NCAA Regional
UCF:216–105–2 (.672)70–37–1 (.653)
Total:315–221–2 (.587)

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Coaching tree

Coached under:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights football</span> Football team representing the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights football team represents the University of Central Florida (UCF) in the sport of American football. The Knights compete in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and are a member of the Big 12 Conference, making UCF the youngest school among the Power Five conferences. Their head coach is Gus Malzahn. The Knights play their home games at the 45,000-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium, which is located on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">FBC Mortgage Stadium</span> American football stadium located near Orlando, Florida

FBC Mortgage Stadium is an American football stadium located near Orlando in Orange County, Florida, United States, on the main campus of the University of Central Florida. It is the home field of the UCF Knights of NCAA Division I FBS college football; also it was home of the now defunct Orlando Apollos during the first and only 2019 season of the Alliance of American Football.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights</span> Athletic program of the University of Central Florida

The UCF Knights are the athletic teams that represent the University of Central Florida in unincorporated Orange County, Florida near Orlando. The Knights participate in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's (NCAA) Division I as a member of the Big 12 Conference. Since men's soccer is not sponsored by the Big 12, they play in the Sun Belt Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">War on I-4</span> Rivalry between the South Florida Bulls and UCF Knights

The War on I-4 is a college rivalry between the University of Central Florida Knights and University of South Florida Bulls. The rivalry is best known for its college football matchup which originated in a series of football games played from 2005 to 2008 and now takes place on Thanksgiving weekend, the de facto "rivalry weekend" for FBS football. From 2013 to 2023, when both schools were part of the American Athletic Conference, the schools began competing annually in all sports both schools sponsored. In 2016, the schools officially adopted the "War on I-4" as an official competition series. Each year, the team with the most wins across all sports receives a gold trophy styled after an Interstate 4 (I-4) road sign with the logos of each school. The winner of the annual football game also receives a similar trophy.

Victoria Gran Hayward is a Canadian Olympic athlete, a professional softball player and the current head coach for the University of Nevada softball program. She played college softball at the University of Washington from 2011 to 2014, professional softball with the National Pro Fastpitch league from 2015 to 2019 and currently competes in the Athletes Unlimited softball league. She is an outfielder who bats and throws left-handed. She has played for the Canadian Senior Women's softball team since June 2009 and was team captain when Canada won the bronze medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The UCF Knights softball program represents the University of Central Florida in the sport of softball. The Knights compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) and the Big 12 Conference. The Knights play their home games at the UCF Softball Complex on UCF's main campus in Orange County, Florida near Orlando. The Knights are coached by head coach Cindy Ball-Malone. In the twenty two year history of the program, the Knights have won three American regular season championships, five conference tournament championships, and have eleven appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 UCF Golden Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2000 UCF Golden Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2000 NCAA Division I-A football season. Their head coach was Mike Kruczek, who was in his third season with the team. The 2000 season marked the Golden Knights fifth year since ascending to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCF Knights women's volleyball</span> American college volleyball team

The UCF Knights women's volleyball program represents the University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the Big 12 Conference and play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at The Venue at UCF. The Knights are currently led by head coach Jenny Maurer.

Daniel J. White is an American university sports administrator. He is the athletic director for the Tennessee Volunteers. White held the same position at the University at Buffalo from 2012 to 2015 and the University of Central Florida from 2015 to 2021. Prior to his tenure at Buffalo, he was the senior associate athletic director for Ole Miss.

Kay Noel "Katie" Abrahamson-Henderson is the current head coach of the University of Georgia's women's basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 American Athletic Conference football season</span> Sports season

The 2016 American Athletic Conference football season was the 25th NCAA Division I FBS football season of the American Athletic Conference. The season was the third since the breakup of the former Big East Conference, and the third season with the College Football Playoff in place. The American was considered a member of the "Group of Five" (G5) with Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference. Whereas under the previous system the champion of the conference was guaranteed an automatic berth to a BCS bowl game, the highest-ranked champion member of the G5 received a bid to one of the six major bowls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2017 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights played their home games at the newly renamed Spectrum Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and competed in the East Division of the American Athletic Conference. They were led by second year head coach Scott Frost.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018–19 UCF Knights women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season

The 2018–19 UCF Knights women's basketball team represented the University of Central Florida during the 2018–19 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Knights compete in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). The Knights, in the program's 42nd season of basketball, were led by third-year head coach Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, and play their home games at the CFE Arena on the university's main campus in Orlando, Florida. They finished the season 26–7, 13–3 in AAC play, to finish in second place. They advanced to the championship game of the American Athletic women's tournament where they lost to Connecticut. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA women's tournament which was their first trip since 2011, where they lost to Arizona State in the first round.

Bridget Rose Callahan is an American soccer player who last played as a midfielder for Orlando Pride in the NWSL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2020 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by third-year head coach Josh Heupel and played their home games at Bounce House in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference. The Knights finished the regular season 6–4 and notably did not have any games of their revised schedule postponed or canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by second-year head coach Gus Malzahn and played their home games at the newly named FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida. They competed as members of the American Athletic Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 UCF Knights football team</span> American college football season

The 2023 UCF Knights football team represented the University of Central Florida (UCF) as a member of the Big 12 Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Knights were led by Gus Malzahn in his third year as the Knights head coach. The team played their home games at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 BYU Cougars softball team</span> American college softball season

The 2023 BYU Cougars softball team represents Brigham Young University in the 2023 NCAA Division I softball season. Gordon Eakin enters the year as head coach of the Cougars for a 21st consecutive season. 2023 is the tenth and final season for the Cougars as members of the WCC in softball as they'll join the Big 12 Conference for the 2024 season. The Cougars enter 2023 having won their last 13 conference championships and having been picked as the favorites to win the 2023 WCC title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023–24 UCF Knights women's basketball team</span> Intercollegiate basketball season team

The 2023–24 UCF Knights women's basketball team represents the University of Central Florida during the 2023–24 NCAA Division I women's basketball season. The Knights, are led by second-year head coach Sytia Messer and play their home games at the Addition Financial Arena as members of the Big 12 Conference.

Whitney Jones is an American college softball coach and is the current head coach of the Appalachian State Mountaineers softball team.

References

  1. "CINDY BALL-MALONE". UCFKnights.com. UCF Athletics. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  2. Barton, Despina. "UCF's Cindy Ball-Malone cherishes friendship with Jessica Mendoza". MyNews13.com. Charter Communications. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  3. "Cindy Ball Named Softball Head Coach". BroncoSports.com. BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  4. Lopez, Eric. "New Ball Game as UCF Names Cindy Ball Head Coach". FastPitchNews.com. Advanced Sports Media. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  5. "BOISE STATE LOSES SOFTBALL COACH CINDY BALL TO CENTRAL FLORIDA". IdahoPress.com. Idaho Press. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  6. "BREAKING: UCF Names Cindy Ball New Softball Head Coach". BlackAndGoldBanneret.com. Vox Media, Inc. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  7. Logan, Collier. "UCF Softball Advances to Super Regionals for First Time in School History". SI.com. Sports Illustrated Media Group. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  8. Beede, Jason. "SUBSCRIBER ONLY UCF softball beats Michigan, advances to first NCAA Super Regional". OrlandoSentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  9. Beede, Jason. "UCF rewards softball coach with extension, salary bump after stellar season". OrlandoSentinel.com. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  10. "UCF Wins By Keeping Cindy Ball-Malone Through 2027". BlackandGoldBanneret.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  11. Covert, Justice. "UCF softball prepares to take on the Big 12". NicholsonStudentMedia.com. Flex BLOX CMS. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  12. Lopez, Eric. "Cindy Ball-Malone Named to U.S. Junior National Team Coaching Staff". BlackandGoldBanneret.com. Vox Media. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  13. "UCF's Cindy Ball-Malone Added to Junior Team USA Staff". TheAmerican.org. AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  14. "CINDY BALL". PacificTigers.com. Pacific Tigers. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  15. "Former Pacific softball star and coach honored by WCC". Pacific.edu. University of the Pacific. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  16. Faraudo, Jeff. "WCC Hall Of Honor: Cindy Ball-Malone". WCCSports.com. West Coast Conference. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  17. "ROBERT MALONE III". UCFKnights.com. UCF Athletics. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  18. "MWC Softball Record Book" (PDF). TheMW.com. Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 2 August 2019.
  19. "AAC Softball 2024 Record Book" (PDF). TheAmerican.org. AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE. Retrieved 13 February 2024.