Having brought her wealth of softball knowledge to three different continents of the world, Cindy Bristow takes the virtual stage. Her lifelong commitment and success was rewarded when she received softball's highest honor and was inducted into the in 2001. Cindy Bristow currently serves pitching coach at the after having been involved in every facet of softball throughout her 40-plus year career in the sport.
After playing collegiately at Cal Poly Pomona, Cindy Bristow began her coaching career in 1980 as an assistant at Arizona State. After two years at Arizona State, she spent a year as head coach at New Mexico State and then two years as head coach at Wichita State. Cindy Bristow was elected president of the National Softball Coaches Association in 1984. She moved from coaching to administration when hired as National Director of Junior Olympic Softball for the Amateur Softball Association in 1986. After six years in the position, Cindy Bristow was named USA Softball Director of National Teams and Coaching Development. She is credited for selecting the first USA National Team that won a Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics.
Cindy Bristow returned to coaching when she accepted a position of head coach and assistant general manager of the Georgia Pride of the upstart Women's Professional Softball League (then called Women's Pro Fastpitch) in 1997 and later spent five years coaching the Florida Wahoos. She led the Wahoos to the 2000 WPSL World Championship title and was subsequently named WPSL Coach of the Year.
Cindy Bristow earned the opportunity to combine coaching and administration when she was named Director of Development for the International Softball Federation in 2001. Instrumental in helping train softball coaches and players in many countries, she prepared the Greek and Chinese National Teams for the Olympics. Cindy Bristow has always found ways to contribute to the sport. She has authored and produced several instructional books and videos, organized hundreds of clinics, and serves as a color analyst for ESPN. Forza #Italia!
by Roberto Angotti
