WILMINGTON, North Carolina – UNCWSports.com will look at the members of the UNCW Department of Athletics staff with a weekly feature called "Seahawk Staff Spotlight." Each Tuesday, the website will profile a different member of the staff.

Our latest edition showcases Head Softball Coach Kristy Norton, who will begin her ninth season as the Seahawks' bench boss in 2021. The UNCG graduate is just the fourth coach in the 36-year history of fast-pitch softball at UNCW and has guided the Seahawks to 170 victories with a pair of Colonial Athletic Association Tournament appearances.  

What do you remember about your first day working at UNCW? 
Getting locked out without my One Card because I didn't know we only worked a half day on Fridays during the summer.

What is one of your favorite memories of working at UNCW?
Seeing my first recruiting class graduate.  

What does working at UNCW mean to you?
It means a lot because I get to do what I love where I enjoy living and working with really bright young women.

If you were an athlete, what jersey number would you want to wear and why?
#11 – it just reminds me to make good decisions between the foul lines, work hard, remain disciplined and play hard.

Did you play sports in college? If so, what sport and where did you play?
I played softball at UNCG and played all but two games of my career at second base while the other two were as a first baseman. Once I entered graduate school at UNCG, I tried out for the golf team and made the squad. I never played in a competition though because I was offered the assistant coach position for the softball team.

(Editor's Note: Norton received All-Southern Conference and honorable mention All-South distinction during her time as a softball player at UNCG. She also set program records for career games started (252) and at-bats (785), while her 222 career hits currently rank sixth on the Spartans' all-time ledger.)

Quick Hits
Favorite Food: American Wagyu Beef
Favorite Color: Red
Favorite Fast Food: Chick-Fil-A
Favorite Movie: The Thomas Crown Affair
Favorite Actor/Actress: Helen Mirren
Favorite TV Show: Yellowstone
Favorite Book: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
Favorite Midnight Snack: Chocolate Milk
What is One Thing People Don't Know About You?: I am an Orange Belt in Karate

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