Valparaiso University Softball Clinics
Coaching Staff
Jordan Stevens
Head Coach
Jordan Stevens enters his second season at the helm of the Valparaiso University softball program in 2012 after leading the Crusaders to a successful season in his first year in charge in 2011.
Stevens guided Valpo to 34 victories in his debut campaign, just one win shy of the program's single-season record. Along the way, the Crusaders enjoyed a 13-game winning streak, setting a new program record in that regard. Valpo finished Horizon League play with a 15-7 record, finishing just one-half game out of the regular season championship, and was within one run of advancing to the league tournament championship.
The impetus for the Crusaders' success in 2011 was in large part due to their record-setting offensive output. Valpo paced the league in nine separate offensive categories, setting new team single-season records for runs batted in (245) and home runs (49). Individually, Stevens coached seven league leaders, while two Crusaders broke Valpo's single-season RBIs record and three topped the previous single-season home runs mark.
Under Stevens' guidance, a remarkable seven Crusaders received Horizon League postseason awards. The first-year coach mentored a pair of First Team and three Second Team All-League honorees, while both freshmen middle infielders were named to the league's All-Newcomer Team. In addition, the Crusaders placed a player on the NFCA All-Midwest Region Second Team.
The Crusaders' success in Stevens' first season wasn't limited to just on-field action, however. Valpo also excelled in the classroom, earning the NFCA Team Academic Award and ranking 32nd nationally with a team GPA of 3.32. Eight Crusaders were named NFCA All-America Scholar Athletes as well.
Stevens came to Valpo after spending the 2010 season as head coach at Division III Union (N.Y.) College, leading the Dutchwomen to the most successful season in program history. He guided Union to a school-record tying 32 victories last year en route to its first Liberty League regular season title since 2005. The Dutchwomen went on to win their first-ever Liberty League Tournament championship, qualified for the ECAC Division III Upstate Championship as the top overall seed and won that title as well.
Under Stevens’ guidance, Union rose as high as #5 in the NFCA regional rankings in 2010. He coached the Liberty League Co-Pitcher of the Year, as well as six total All-League recipients. Stevens and his staff were also named the league’s Coaching Staff of the Year as they guided the Dutchwomen to the top spot in the league in both team batting average (.333) and team ERA (2.15).
Prior to arriving at Union, Stevens spent a year as assistant coach at the University of Rhode Island. While with the Rams in 2009, he was directly responsible for the development and coaching of the pitching staff, helping to lower the squad’s team ERA by 1.72 runs and reduce opponents’ batting average by 40 points.
Previously, Stevens served two seasons as an assistant coach at Niagara University, where he was responsible for development and individual instruction in hitting. He helped lead the Purple Eagles to single-season school records for batting average, hits and home runs, the latter of which was the second-highest single season mark in MAAC history. He helped guide Niagara to the winningest season in school history in 2008, coaching the conference Co-Player of the Year along the way. Niagara also finished among the top-20 teams nationally in doubles (2007), home runs (2008) and slugging percentage (2008) during his tenure.
From 2004 to 2006, Stevens was the head varsity softball coach at Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio. He helped the Eagles win two sectional championships, make two district final appearances and win back-to-back Toledo City League titles in 2004 and 2005. Stevens was named the league’s Coach of the Year in 2004 and 2005 and was honored as the Northwest Ohio Division I Coach of the Year in 2005 as well. Along the way, he coached 17 All-League athletes, 10 All-District honorees and two All-State recipients.
Stevens graduated from Bowling Green State University in 2004 with his bachelor’s degree as a sports management major. He is currently a member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Leslie Malerich
Assistant Coach
Leslie Malerich, who pitched Merrillville H.S. to the 1997 IHSAA state title and went on to play for the Italian national team, most notably in the 2004 Olympics, has joined the Crusader coaching staff as an assistant coach beginning with the 2012 season.
A local product, Malerich tossed a one-hit shutout over Carmel in the state championship game to give Merrillville the 1997 IHSAA softball championship. She was named the NWI Times Female Athlete of the Year, as well as Softball Player of the Year, and eventually was inducted into the IHSAA Softball Hall of Fame in 2005.
Following her prep career, Malerich went on to a standout career at Florida State from 1999-2002, where she still holds the Seminoles’ career wins (107), appearances (179) and innings pitched (988.2) records, as well as single-season marks in wins and appearances. A three-time All-American, Malerich led the Seminoles to the Women’s College World Series in 2002, getting named to the WCWS All-Tournament Team after earning Regional MVP honors. The ACC Player of the Year as a junior in 2001, Malerich also earned a spot on the ACC 50th Anniversary Team.
Malerich played for the Italian national team from 2002-2009, highlighted by an appearance in the 2004 Olympics. She also helped pitched Italy to three European titles, and was team MVP at the 2009 European Championships. Malerich also played professionally in Italy for two years with Crocetta Parma and seven years with Fiorini Forli, helping the latter squad to two league titles and two European titles while being named an All-Star three times. She also pitched for the Stratford [Conn.] Brakettes ASA team for five years as well.
Malerich also brings with her coaching experience at the Division I level, as she served as an assistant coach at Quinnipiac during the 2006 and 2007 seasons. In addition, she spent three years as a high school assistant and also has worked numerous clinics, as well as giving private lessons for the last ten years.
KC Boldt
Assistant Coach
KC Boldt returns to Valparaiso as an assistant coach for the 2012 season after closing out her Crusader career in 2011 with one of the most prolific seasons in program history.
Boldt set a new Valpo single-season record as a senior in 2011 with 11 home runs and closed her career sixth on the Crusaders' career home runs chart. She also matched the Crusader single-season RBIs record (42) and also moved into Valpo's single-season top-fives in slugging percentage (.597, 2nd), total bases (95, 3rd) and runs scored (38, t-4th) as well. A Second Team All-Horizon League honoree, Boldt also ranked among the league's top-five as well in all five aforementioned categories, including tying for the league crown in runs scored.
Throughout her time as a player with the Crusaders, Boldt assisted with Valpo's various camps and clinics that it hosted. She has also assisted with clinics in her home region of the Twin Cities. A member of the Horizon League's Academic Honor Roll during her playing career, Boldt graduated from Valparaiso in the spring of 2011 with a bachelor's degree in business management. She is currently working towards her master's degree in sports administration.
