UNCP Athletics

A 10-year collegiate coaching veteran with previous stints as an assistant coach at both Mayville State and UNC Pembroke, Stephanie Graziani was named the 11^th head coach in the history of the Braves softball program in June 2022, and enters her fourth season as head coach for the 2025-26 season.

Graziani took over the reins of the program after serving the previous five seasons (2018-22) as the assistant coach for the Braves. The Black & Gold amassed nearly 115 victories in her five years as an assistant, logging three winning seasons, while also amassing 11 all-conference selections and a pair of all-America nods.

During Graziani's first season at the helm of the Black & Gold, the Braves finished the season with a 20-31 record and finished 11-11 in Conference Carolinas play. The team collected a pair of Conference Carolinas weekly awards, one All-Conference recipient, one All-Defensive team award, and seven Academic All-Conference selections during the 2023 season. 

Graziani's second season as head coach saw the Braves finish with a 19-33 record, including a 10-14 mark in Conference Carolinas play. The Black & Gold saw two players named to the All-Conference team, as well as five Academic All-Conference honorees.

Her third season saw the Braves finish with a 27-25 overall record, as well as a 17-7 record in Conference Carolinas play, marking the most conference wins since 2008. The Black & Gold had two players selected to the All-Conference team and one to the All-Defensive team, while Alona Hanna became the program's second Freshman of the Year recipient, and first since 2010. The program also saw four players named Academic All-Conference.
 
The New Castle, Pa., native came to Pembroke after a four-year stint as the assistant coach at Mayville State in Mayville, N.D. During her tenure at MSU, the Comets' win total increased each season, culminating in a pair of wins in the North Star Athletic Association Conference Tournament in 2017.

Graziani's playing career began at Iowa Central Community College where she earned NJCAA Second Team All-Region honors her freshman season and NJCAA First Team All-Region and NFCA First Team All-American accolades following her sophomore campaign. She led the Tritons to their first-ever appearance at the NJCAA National Championship in 2009 after winning a regional title.

Following two years at Iowa Central, she completed her final two seasons of collegiate softball at NCAA Division II Florida Southern. While a member of the Mocs, Graziani established herself as the Sunshine State Conference's best leadoff hitter and led the team to its first ever super regional appearance in her senior season. She ended her playing career with 132 stolen bases to go along with 181 wins and just 57 losses.
 
After her successful collegiate career, Graziani played for the USAAI softball team in the summer of 2012. The team traveled to Prague, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria, to compete against the world's best talent. She also has coaching experience at the Florida Southern College Summer Camp, as well as Neshannock High School in Lawrence County, Pa.

Graziani earned her associate degree from Iowa Central in May of 2010 before graduating in April of 2012 with a bachelor's degree in human movement and performance from Florida Southern. She continued her educational journey to Concordia-Chicago, where she obtained a masters of applied exercise science degree in August of 2015. Graziani is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in health and human performance from Concordia-Chicago, with plans to graduate in May 2025.

Updated: June 2025