July 13, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jim Stennett, Sports Information Intern July 12, 2007, 334-244-3330
Montgomery, Ala. -The Athletics Department at Auburn University Montgomery introduced Christina Steiner Wilcoxson as the school's first softball head coach at a press conference held on the AUM campus on Thursday afternoon. Wilcoxson comes to AUM following a successful three-year tenure at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga. where she began the Eagles' softball program in 2005. At Reinhardt, she compiled an 84-80 overall record including a 55-31 record in conference games.
In only her second year at the helm of the Reinhardt program, Wilcoxson was named the 2006 Southern States Athletic Conference Softball Coach of the Year following her team's third place finish in the SSAC regular season and runner-up finish at the conference tournament. The Eagles were ranked No. 21 in the final NAIA poll that year and ended with a third place finish at the Region XIII tournament.
Over her time in Waleska, the Loxley, Ala. native coached 17 All-Conference players, seven SSAC All-Freshman team members and three All-Region XIII players. Three All-Americans have benefited from her tutelage including two-time All-American pitcher and the 2007 SSAC Female Athlete of the Year Leigh Baker of Macon, Ga. Wilcoxson has also instructed 11 SSAC All-Academic team members along with four NAIA All-Academic qualifiers.
Prior to Wilcoxson's move to Reinhardt, she served as head coach at Palmetto High School in Florida where she coached from August 2000 to May 2004. She won two District 15 titles and was selected to coach the Florida West All-Star team twice. Her squad set a school record for victories in 2003 with 30 wins on the campaign and her teams ranked in the top five of the state's 4-A ratings in each year of her leadership.
Wilcoxson began her coaching career in 1999 at Eufaula High School where she established a school record for wins in a season with 29 in 2000 and finished as district runner-up and sub-state finalist.
A two-time team captain at Auburn University, Wilcoxson was a three-year starter for the Tigers during the program's initial seasons. She hit the first home run in Tiger Softball history and was selected to the Southeastern Conference All-Academic team twice. Wilcoxson led Auburn in home runs in 1997 and closed her playing career in 1999 by leading the team in at-bats, triples and stolen bases. She currently ranks third in the Auburn record book in career stolen bases and triples. She transferred to Auburn following her freshman year at Huntingdon College where she played varsity softball and volleyball.
A 1994 graduate of Robertsdale High School, Wilcoxson was a four-year starter in softball, volleyball and basketball. She was inducted in the RHS Fall of Fame in 2006 a 12-varsity sport letter winner.
In her life off the diamond, she is married to Amon Wilcoxson and has two children, Easton (6) and Auburn (4).z
The AUM Softball Lady Senators will begin play, including a full SSAC schedule, in 2009 at Fain Park.
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