Stephanie Hartquist was promoted to head coach of the Hamilton College softball program in September 2018 after spending the previous two seasons as the Continentals' assistant. Hartquist was selected the 2019 NESCAC Softball Coach of the Year after a historic season, and was the first Hamilton head softball coach to receive the award. She guided the Continentals to an overall record of 28-10 and nearly doubled the program record for wins in a season. Hamilton finished in second place in the NESCAC West Division with a 7-5 record and advanced to the postseason for the first time in team history. The division finish and seven victories are the best performances for the Continentals. Hartquist coached four all-conference selections and two all-region picks. Her athletes collected a pair of NESCAC pitcher of the week awards and one player of the week honor.
Hamilton set program records in a dozen categories under Hartquist in 2019 and the Continentals led the conference in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, triples, fewest strikeouts, saves and most double plays turned. Her players posted single-season records in runs, hits, runs batted in, saves and pitching victories. One athlete established a career mark for runs scored in 2019.
In 2018 Hartquist helped lead the Continentals to a win against nationally ranked NESCAC West Division rival Williams, and she coached an all-conference team selection in 2017.
Hartquist's student-athletes also excel in the classroom. Her players have earned eight NESCAC spring all-academic team honors and one is a two-time member of the College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District Softball Team.
Hartquist was an assistant coach at Cornell University from 2014 to 2016 and was an assistant on the staff at SUNY Cortland in 2013. She helped lead Cortland to a 35-17 record, the SUNYAC tournament championship and a runner-up finish at the 2013 NCAA Division III Softball Championship. Hartquist and the rest of the staff were selected the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Northeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
Hartquist was a four-year starter at third base for Colgate University from 2009 to 2012. The Raiders made four Patriot League Tournament appearances during her career and posted a 16-3 league record in 2011. Hartquist was a four-time all-league selection, including the first team in 2010 and 2012, and posted a career .314 batting average. In 2010 she made the NFCA all-region first team in the Northeast Region after a career year. Hartquist led the team with a .392 batting average and finished two hits shy of tying the school record for most in a season with 62. She added 14 doubles, 39 runs batted in and 39 runs scored, all of which were top-six performances on the program's single-season charts. She boasted a 24-game hit streak and was among the Division I leaders in sacrifice flies and toughest to strike out.
The Homer, N.Y., native was a nine-time varsity letter winner in softball and basketball at Homer High School. Hartquist was an all-state first team honoree at shortstop as a senior in 2008 when the team finished with a 21-3 record.
Hartquist received a bachelor's degree in educational studies with a minor in sociology and anthropology. Her master's degree from Cortland is in sports management.
