ISU softball coach Stacy Gemeinhardt-Cesler, now in her third year at Iowa State, was shown faith by the athletic department with a three-year contract extension last month.

“Stacy is just a really young, energetic, passionate coach, and we obviously see the qualities in her that we like in our head coaches,” said Calli Sanders, senior associate director of athletics. “I think she has done great things with the program so far and I anticipate that that will continue.”

Gemeinhardt-Cesler took over a team that went 18-32 in 2005 and led them to a 23-28 record in 2006. This spring, the Cyclones went 24-40 with a young team – the most wins for Iowa State since 1989. She plans to improve the team by developing her team both on and off the field.

“I take high school graduates, and I try to make them better students, better athletes and better people; every day, that is what I want for them. [I want them] to enjoy their time here, work hard and get a phenomenal education here at Iowa State.”

Even though Gemeinhardt-Cesler has not had a winning record yet, the athletic department believes she can continue to develop the program.

“She is still in her early years with this team,” Sanders said. “I think she has done a really good job so far. I think the Big 12 is tough, but she is driven to do better in the Big 12 and I have every reason to believe that she will get there. I feel like success is coming.”

One of the reasons they believe in Gemeinhardt-Cesler is because the team seems to be behind her.

“We are really excited because we’re just starting to get used to this staff and we think they do a really good job,” said senior outfielder Kristy Olsen. “She is very supportive of every one of us, and there is more emphasis on the team than we have had in the past.”

Olsen is the last remaining Cyclone who played under former coach Ruth Crowe, who led the team for the previous nine seasons. Gemeinhardt-Cesler is starting to build the team with her own players.

Iowa State’s 369 hits last season were the most since 1999.

“It always takes time to get a program going no matter what the sport is,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “You need to get some recruits in and coach them to get better. If we do those things, then we will have a lot of success.”

Despite improvement through her first two seasons, Gemeinhardt-Cesler said she is by no means content with the current level of success.

“I have loved everything [about my first two seasons at Iowa State] except losing. Unfortunately that is the hardest thing I think for me,” Gemeinhardt-Cesler said. “I have a phenomenal staff. I think the athletic department is great, the city is spectacular and the university is wonderful. But I think that a lot of my job depends on wins and losses, and I’m not satisfied with what we’ve done.”