Florida head coach Tim Walton announced the addition of three-time NFCA All-American Francesca Enea as the newest member to the coaching staff.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Head Coach Tim Walton of the Florida softball program announced that former UF All-American Francesca Enea will join the coaching staff Monday afternoon. Enea’s collegiate career at UF included finishing as the SEC’s all-time home run leader in addition to setting program career records in home runs, RBI and total bases.
“I am beyond excited to add Francesca to our coaching staff,” Walton said. “Francesca is a very talented individual and is going to be such a great addition to our staff. She is such a special person to me and my family and I sincerely look forward to her starting her coaching career here back in Gainesville. I welcome back Francesca, her husband Christian, and their two children Sage and Niko.”
Enea, a three-time NFCA All-American, comes back to the program after having spent the past 12 years as an analyst in the sport for broadcasts across the SEC, American, A10, ASUN and Sunbelt conference as well as seven years of NCAA Regional coverage.
“First, I’d like to thank Coach Walton for this opportunity and welcoming me back to Gator Nation,” Enea said. “Choosing to play softball at the University of Florida for Coach Walton was one of the best decisions of my life. I look forward to returning and continuing the tradition of winning championships at the best university in the world, while helping our student-athletes achieve their dreams on and off the field.”
During her collegiate career with the Gators, Enea not only was tabbed a three-time NFCA All-American, but she was also a two-time All-SEC selection and set the conference career home run record with 61 and finished fourth with 221 RBI from 2007-2010. In addition, during her senior campaign in 2010, she was also a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 10 Finalist and Senior CLASS Award Top 10 Finalist.
Enea’s name can also be found all across the Florida’s record book. The talented slugger set the single-season program record for RBI (64), total bases (137) and sacrifice flies (6) during her sophomore year in 2008, while she also tied the single-season record for home runs (17) that same season.
The Woodland Hills, Calif. native went on to establish a new UF single-season home run record the following year in 2009 as she belted 18 on the way to the Gators first ever Women’s College World Series championship series appearance, while also breaking her own single-season record for RBI (71) and establishing a new record for slugging percentage (.713). The pair of standout seasons in 2008 and 2009 allowed Enea to vault to the top of a trio of Florida career records as a junior: home runs (41), RBI (157) and SAC flies (11).
During her senior season in 2010, Enea yet again broke the single-season school record for home runs as she crushed 20 en route to the Gators third-straight Women’s College World Series appearance. She finished her career wearing the Orange & Blue ranked on UF’s career top 10 list in 20 career categories and 25 single-season categories.
Prior to her collegiate career, Enea competed in high school at El Camino Real where she earned all-city, All-West Valley League and all-area honors for all four years. In addition, she competed as a member of the OC Batbusters coached by Gary Haning and Mike Stith. While with the Batbusters, she claimed the 2003 16-U Amateur Softball Association (ASA) National Championship and 2004 18-U ASA Class A National Championship. The team finished third at the 2005 Gold Nationals and went on to win in 2006.
Following her time at UF where she also graduated in 2010 with a degree in Family Youth and Community Science, Enea continued to compete at the highest level in the sport as she played professionally with the USSSA Pride from 2010-2013. Since retiring from professional softball, she worked in marketing and sales for various companies including Easton and Blast Motion.
Francesca Enea Career Accolades & Honors
* NFCA All-American (3x – 2008, 2009 & 2010)
* NFCA All-Southeast Region (3x – 2008, 2009 & 2010)
* All-SEC (2x -2009 & 2010)
* All-SEC Freshman Team (2007)
* Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team (2008)
* SEC Player of the Week (3x – Feb. 16, 2009, March 2, 2009 & March 8, 2010)
* SEC All-Tournament Team (2008)
* SEC Community Service Team (2009 & 2010)
* SEC Career Records – Home Runs (61 – 1st), RBI (221 – 4th)
* UF Career Records – Home Runs (61 – 1st), RBI (221 – 1st) and Total Bases (431)
* UF Single-Season Records – Home Runs (20 – 2010 – 1st), RBI (70 – 1st – 2009)
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