Chris Stelma was hired as the Head Oakland Softball Coach ahead of the 2025 season.
Prior to Oakland, Stelma served an eight-year tenure (2016-2024) at the helm of the Saint Peter's University Softball program. While the leader of Peacocks, Stelma saw a great deal of success, sitting second in all-time wins at Saint Peter's. As 2022 MAAC Coach of the Year, Stelma took a team that went 2-28 in 2021 and guided them to an unprecedented jump where they improved by 20 games to go 22-33 in 2022. He followed up in 2023 by leading the Peacocks to a 30-21 record, achieving the program's first back-to-back 20-win seasons and first 30-win season since 2002.Â
In a three-season stretch from 2022 to 2024, Stelma led his team to 68 wins, the most over a three-year span at Saint Peter's since 2003. In 2024 he also coached three All-Conference and an impressive nine MAAC All-Academic student-athletes as well.
Stelma hopes to set fire to the bats of the Golden Grizzlies this season. In 2024 the Peacocks ranked among the best offenses in the MAAC, ranking third in batting average, hits, triples, and slugging percentage, while ending the season tied for first in doubles.
