2024 NFCA Hall of Fame inductee Tim Walton enters his 21^st year at the helm of the Florida Gators softball program. Going into the 2026 season, Walton has tallied a 1,028-255 (.801) record in 20 seasons as Florida's head coach and 1,151-319 (.783) in 23 seasons overall.

Walton earned his 1,000^th win as a Gator in 2025, leading Florida to its 13^th Women's College World Series appearance as the No. 3 National Seed.

Jocelyn Erickson and Kendra Falby repeated as Rawlings Gold Glove winners at catcher and in center field, just the second and third pair of repeat winners in the award's history. Since the award was established in 2022, three Gator student-athletes have been named winners five times, the most of any program in the nation.

Taylor Shumaker was named the 2025 NFCA Freshman of the Year, the second Gator to earn the honor, and became the first Florida freshman to be named an NFCA First Team All-American.

The Gators also continued to thrive in the classroom. Korbe Otis was named the SEC Student-Athlete of the Year and Elite 90 winner, the first time in program history that a Florida athlete has won either award.

In 2024, Florida returned to the Women’s College World Series for the 12th time and earned its sixth SEC Tournament championship, rolling up 54 wins.

The Gators earned extensive recognition within the Southeastern Conference as Jocelyn Erickson earned SEC Player of the Year honors and Keagan Rothrock added SEC Freshman of the Year accolades. Five Gators earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2024, including Erickson, Kendra Falby, Korbe Otis, Skylar Wallace and Reagan Walsh, while Rothrock added second-team recognition. Erickson and Falby also earned SEC All-Defensive Team honors.

Prior to the start of the 2024 campaign, Walton was announced as a member of the 2024 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame Class.

Walton reached a historic milestone during the Gators 2022 campaign as he became the second fastest head coach to reach 1,000 career NCAA Division I softball victories with 2-1 (9 inning) win at LSU on May 1. In addition, Walton led the Gators to its 11th overall Women’s College World Series appearance after the Orange & Blue defeated No.3-seed Virginia Tech in Blacksburg during the NCAA Super Regional round. In 2021, Walton led the program to a Southeastern Conference leading ninth regular season championship.

During the 2019 season, the Gators became back-to-back SEC Tournament Champions for the second time in program history and Walton navigated the program through a shortened 2020 campaign due to COVID-19 with a 23-4, 3-0 SEC record and a No. 7 national ranking.

With an incredible record of 1,030-255 (.802) at Florida, the five-time SEC Coach of the Year has led the Orange and Blue to numerous school records and other SEC records, and his squads have earned various firsts for the Gator softball program. By the end of the 2008 season, the Gators had set the NCAA single-season record for wins (70) and the SEC single-season record (27). In 2018, the program set the NCAA record for walks (360) in a season and most recently set the UF program record for stolen bases (132).

In 2018, Florida became only the second SEC program to win four straight SEC Regular Season Championships and now holds a league leading nine titles, eight of which have come under Walton’s guidance. In 2017, Walton and his staff earned their fifth NFCA Southeast Coaching Staff of the Year award and the team finished the season leading the nation in ERA (0.81) and fielding percentage (.985) for the second consecutive season.

With back-to-back national titles in 2014 and 2015, Walton’s Gators are one of only four teams to have achieved the feat in consecutive seasons.

The five-time SEC Coach of the Year recipient, has led his squads to 19 NCAA Regional appearances, 16 Super Regionals, 13 Women’s College World Series berths, eight SEC Regular Season Championships and six SEC Tournament Championships. From 2006 to 2018, the Orange & Blue appeared in a nation’s best five WCWS championship series appearances. That success led to a 2015 NFCA Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year award and five NFCA Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year selections.

Under Walton’s tutelage, Gator softball student-athletes have earned 56 NFCA All-American honors, 83 All-SEC honors, two USA Softball Player of the Year recipients, three Honda Award winners, 13 SEC Player & Pitcher of the Year honorees, two NFCA Players of the Year and two NFCA Freshman of the Year honorees.

The Gators have not only excelled on the field but in the classroom as well under Walton. Since 2006, Florida student-athletes have achieved 23 College Sports Communicators (CoSIDA) Academic All-American honors, 191 appearances on the SEC Academic Honor Roll and 79 SEC Academic Honor Roll First-Year recipients.

Prior to arriving at Florida, he took Wichita State to the NCAA Tournament in 2005 where his team finished with a school single-season record 46 wins (46-18). After three seasons with the Shockers he amassed a record of 123-64.

Walton has been a part of national championship teams as a baseball player, an assistant softball coach and a head softball coach. Before heading to take his first head coaching position at Wichita State, Walton served as an assistant softball coach for the University of Oklahoma, as the hitting coach and outfielders’ coach. In his four seasons at OU, the Sooners won three Big 12 titles and made three consecutive WCWS appearances, including winning the 2000 NCAA title.

Outside the collegiate ranks, Walton has continuously prepared his student-athletes for success. Numerous Gators have gone on to play professionally and 15 players have been selected to various national teams including the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

After graduating from Oklahoma with a degree in history, Walton played in the Philadelphia Phillies organization from 1995-97.

Walton is married to the former Samantha Rhoten, who was a basketball player at Oral Roberts. The couple has two sons, Brooks and Palmer, and a daughter, Camden.

The Walton File
Hometown	Cerritos, California
College	University of Oklahoma, B.A. in History, 1996
Family	Wife, Samantha; Children, Brooks, Camden and Palmer
Record at Florida	1,030-255 (.802)
Overall Record	1,153-319 (.783)
NCAA Appearances	20 - 2005 (Wichita State); 2006-19, 21-25 (Florida)

Coaching Experience
2006-Present	University of Florida, Head Coach
2022-2025	USA Women's National Team Assistant Coach
2015 & 2019	U.S. Junior Women’s National Team, Assistant Coach
2010, 2011	USSSA Florida Pride (NPF), Head Coach
2003-05	Wichita State University, Head Coach
1999-2002	University of Oklahoma, Assistant Coach

Playing Experience
1995-97	Philadelphia Phillies; Drafted 25^th round of 1995 draft, pitched at various levels of minor league system
1994-95	University of Oklahoma, two-year letter winner
1992-93	Cerritos Junior College

Coaching Accolades
SEC Coach of the Year	5 – 2008, ’09, ’11, ’13, ‘17
NFCA DI National Coaching Staff of the Year	1 – 2015
NFCA Southeast Region Coaching Staff of the Year	5 – 2007, ’08, ’09, ’11, ‘17, '19
Team USA Walton served as an Assistant Coach with the USA Women’s National Team (WNT) from 2022-2025, helping lead the Red, White and Blue to a World Championship at 2022 World Games. He helped the WNT earn a silver medal in the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) World Cup Finals in Italy after helping lead the team to a first place finish in Group A qualifier held in Ireland during the summer of 2023. During the fall of 2023, Walton and Team USA also won a Gold Medal at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. In addition, Walton was an Assistant Coach on the U.S. Junior Women’s National Team in 2015 & 2019 that won a Gold Medal at the WBSC in 2015 & 2019. The team also won Gold at the Junior Women’s World Championship (JWWC) in 2015.

Walton’s Year-By-Year Record
Year	Overall	Conference	NCAA
2003 (Wichita State)	39-20 (.661)	16-9 (.640) – 3^rd
2004 (Wichita State)	38-26 (.594)	15-12 (.556) – 5^th
2005 (Wichita State)	46-18 (.719)	22-4 (.846) – 2^nd	Regionals
2006 (Florida)	43-25 (.632)	17-13 (.567) – 5^th	No. 16 Seed – Regionals
2007 (Florida)	50-22 (.694)	17-11 (.607) – 4^th	No. 13 Seed – Super Regionals
2008 (Florida)	70-5* (.933)	27-1 (.964) – 1^st	No. 1 Seed – WCWS Semifinals
2009 (Florida)	63-5 (.926)	26-1 (.963) – 1^st	No. 1 Seed – WCWS Finals
2010 (Florida)	49-10 (.831)	20-4 (.833) – 2^nd	No. 4 Seed – WCWS Quarterfinals
2011 (Florida)	56-13 (.811)	21-7 (.750) – 2^nd	No. 4 Seed – WCWS Finals
2012 (Florida)	48-13 (.786)	21-7 (.750) – 3^rd	No. 5 Seed – Regionals
2013 (Florida)	58-9 (.866)	18-6 (.750) – 1^st	No. 2 Seed – WCWS
2014 (Florida)	55-12 (.821)	15-9 (.625) – T-3^rd	No. 5 Seed – National Champions
2015 (Florida)	60-7 (.896)	18-5 (.783) – 1^st	No. 1 Seed – National Champions
2016 (Florida)	56-7 (.889)	20-4 (.833) – 1^st	No. 1 Seed – Super Regionals
2017 (Florida)	58-10 (.852)	20-3 (.870) – 1^st	No. 1 Seed – WCWS Finals
2018 (Florida)	56-11 (.836)	20-4 (.833) - 1^st	No. 2 Seed - WCWS Quarterfinals
2019 (Florida)	49-18 (.731)	12-12 (.500) - T-6^th	No. 5 Seed - WCWS
2020 (Florida)	23-4 (.852)	3-0 (1.000) - T-1st	NCAA Postseason Canceled
2021 (Florida)	45-11 (.804)	19-5 (.792) - T-1st	No. 4 Seed - Super Regionals
2022 (Florida)	49-19 (.721)	13-11 (.542) - 5th	No. 14 Seed - WCWS
2023 (Florida)	38-22 (.633)	11-13 (.458) – 8th	NCAA Palo Alto Regional Runner Up
2024 (Florida)	54-15 (.783)	17-7 (.708) – 2nd	No. 4 Seed – NCAA WCWS Semifinals
2025 (Florida)	48-17 (.738)	14-10 (.583)	No. 3 Seed - WCWS
	Overall	Conference
Wichita State (3 Seasons)	123-64 (.658)	53-25 (.679)
Florida (20 Seasons)	1,028-255 (.801)	349-133 (.724)	8 – SEC Regular Season Titles
NCAA Tournament	110-47 (.700)		2 – National Championships
Career (23 Seasons)	1,151-319 (.783)

Athletic Awards Earned Under Walton
Honda Sports Award Winners	2011 – Kelsey Bruder 2015 – Lauren Haeger 2017 – Kelly Barnhill
USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year	2015 – Lauren Haeger 2017 – Kelly Barnhill
NFCA Player of the Year	2024 – Jocelyn Erickson 2023 – Skylar Wallace
NCAA Today’s Top VIII Award Winner	2011 – Kelsey Bruder
NFCA All-Americans	31 Players, 56 Honors
NFCA All-Southeast Region Selections	40 Players, 85 Honors
NFCA Freshman of the Year	2016 - Amanda Lorenz 2025 - Taylor Shumaker
SEC Pitcher of the Year	2008 & 2009 – Stacey Nelson 2015 – Lauren Haeger 2017 & 2018 – Kelly Barnhill
SEC Player of the Year	2006 – Kristen Butler 2011 – Kelsey Bruder 2012 – Michelle Moultrie 2015 – Kelsey Stewart 2018 – Amanda Lorenz 2023 – Skylar Wallace 2024 – Jocelyn Erickson
All-SEC Selections	41 Players, 83 Honors
SEC All-Tournament Team	30 Players, 40 Honors
SEC Tournament MVP	2008 – Stacey Nelson 2009 – Kristina Hilberth 2013 – Kirsti Merritt 2018 - Amanda Lorenz 2019 - Kelly Barnhill 2024 – Skylar Wallace
SEC All-Defensive Selections	19 Players, 31 Honors
SEC Student-Athlete of the Year	Korbe Otis - 2025
Rawlings Gold Glove	Hannah Adams - 2022 Jocelyn Erickson - 2024. 2025 Kendra Falby - 2024, 2025
Women’s College World Series All-Tournament	22 Players, 26 Honors
Women’s College World Series MVP	2011 – Michelle Moultrie 2014 – Hannah Rogers 2015 – Lauren Haeger
Elite 90 Winner	Korbe Otis - 2025
Senior CLASS Award Winner	2009 – Stacey Nelson

Academic Awards Earned Under Walton
CoSIDA Acadmic All-American of the Year	2009 - Stacey Nelson 2018 - Kelly Barnhill 2020 - Kendyl Lindaman
CoSIDA Academic All-American	13 Players, 23 Honors
SEC Academic Honor Roll	90 Players, 191 Honors

#	Name	Position	HT	CL	Hometown / High School
00	Alex Voss	INF	5' 2''	Fr.	Coral Springs, Fla. / Coral Springs
1	Aubree Munro	C	5' 10''	Sr.	Brea, Calif. / Brea Olinda
7	Kelsey Stewart	INF	5' 6''	Sr.	Wichita, Kan. / Maize
8	Aleshia Ocasio	UT	5' 9''	So.	St. Cloud, Fla. / Harmony
11	Kelly Barnhill	RHP	5' 8''	Fr.	Marietta, Ga. / Pope
12	Taylore Fuller	UT	5' 9''	Sr.	Trenton, Fla. / Chiefland
18	Amanda Lorenz	OF	5' 5''	Fr.	Moorpark, Calif. / Moorpark
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19	Chelsea Herndon	OF	5' 7''	Jr.	Carrollton, Texas / Hebron
20	Theresa Swertfager	INF	5' 4''	Fr.	Katonah, N.Y. / John Jay
21	Kayli Kvistad	UT	5' 8''	So.	Lake City, Fla. / Columbia
23	Nicole DeWitt	UT	5' 7''	So.	Garden Grove, Calif. / Pacifica
24	Kirsti Merritt	OF	5' 4''	Sr.	Lake Panasoffkee, Fla. / South Sumter
25	Janell Wheaton	C/1B	5' 7''	So.	San Dimas, Calif. / San Dimas
28	Brooke Clemens	C	5' 9''	Fr.	Rotonda West, Fla. / Lemon Bay
33	Delanie Gourley	LHP	5' 4''	Jr.	Lakeside, Calif. / El Capitan
47	Lily Mann	OF	5' 9''	Fr.	St. Cloud, Fla. / Harmony
49	Taylor Schwarz	1B	5' 9''	Sr.	Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. / Palm Beach Gardens
52	Justine McLean	OF	5' 3''	Jr.	Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. / Rancho Cucamonga
74	Sophia Reynoso	INF	5' 4''	Fr.	Palmdale, Calif. / Knight

Coaching Staff
Image	Name	Title	Email	Phone Number
	Tim Walton	Head Coach
	Jennifer Rocha	Assistant Coach	GatorSoftball@gators.ufl.edu	5554
	Sharonda McDonald	Assistant Coach	gatorsoftball@gators.ufl.edu	5554
	Cody Dent	Volunteer Assistant Coach	GatorSoftball@gators.ufl.edu	5554

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Illinois State on Feb. 6, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Michigan on Feb. 7, 2026 at 12:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 7, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball versus Kansas on Feb. 8, 2026 at 12 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Softball at USF on Feb. 8, 2026 at 2:35 p.m.

2016 Softball Roster

Alex Voss

Aubree Munro

Kelsey Stewart

Aleshia Ocasio

Kelly Barnhill

Taylore Fuller

Amanda Lorenz

Chelsea Herndon

Theresa Swertfager

Kayli Kvistad

Nicole DeWitt

Kirsti Merritt

Janell Wheaton

Brooke Clemens

Delanie Gourley

Lily Mann

Taylor Schwarz

Justine McLean

Sophia Reynoso

Tim Walton

Jennifer Rocha

Sharonda McDonald

Cody Dent