Stacey Johnson-Whitfield is in her fourth season at the helm of the Furman softball program. She served as the team's interim head coach from May of 2021 to 2022 before becoming the program's permanent head coach on May 14, 2022.
Last season, Johnson-Whitfield led the Paladins to a 24-30 record, including a 9-12 mark in league play. She guided Furman to a 4-3 victory over No. 17 Clemson, which marked the Paladins' third victory over an ACC or SEC opponent during Johnson-Whitfield's tenure as head coach. Under her leadership, outfielders Ashlee Lykins and Caitlin Goldait garnered All-Southern Conference honors while Ansley Chiang was selected to the SoCon All-Freshma squad.
During the 2023 season, Furman, 20-32 overall and 8-9 in league play, once again exceeded preseason expectations by finishing third in the SoCon standings. Senior Riley Ludlam captured SoCon Player of the Year honors while first baseman Kiley Perry earned SoCon Freshman of the Year accolades. The duo were joined on the All-SoCon First Team by Lykins and freshman designated player Sylvia Burroughs.
After being named the program's interim head coach in May 2021, Johnson-Whitfield guided the 2022 Paladins to a 22-33 overall record, including an 8-10 league mark, fourth-place finish in the Southern Conference standings during the regular season, and a top-four finish in the SoCon Softball Championship. Furman exceeded preseason expectations that saw the Paladins predicted to finish sixth in the seven-team SoCon race. Following the successful 2022 campaign, Johnson-Whitfield was tabbed as the Paladins' permanent head coach on May 14, 2022.
Johnson-Whitfield, who joined the program as pitching coach during the 2021 season, helped the 2022 Paladins claim a victory over SEC foe Mississippi State and navigate a non-conference slate that included seven games against nationally ranked opponents. She developed a young Furman squad that earned four postseason citations as Ludlam garnered first team All-SoCon honors, sophomores Sierra Tufts and Lykins captured second team All-SoCon accolades and Caitlin Goldwait was selected to the SoCon All-Freshman Team.
Prior to coming to Furman, Johnson-Whitfield served as a private pitching instructor and assistant high school coach since 2005. Despite Furman being picked sixth in preseason polling of the Southern Conference’s head coaches, the first-year assistant helped Furman (19-28 overall, 8-9 SoCon) finish just a half game out of third place in the league standings. Her pitching staff, which included two freshmen, improved its ERA by more than a run during SoCon play in the second half of the season, while hitters Mackense Greico and Riley Ludlam earned All-SoCon honors.
A four-year standout at the University of South Carolina from 2001-04, the Pennsylvania native helped the Gamecocks to four consecutive NCAA regional appearances and a pair of SEC East titles. She ranks among the school’s all-time leaders with 485 strikeouts and 63 career victories, while earning two SEC Pitcher of the Week citations during her career in Columbia, S.C. Through her business, SJWFastpitch, Johnson-Whitfield has mentored pitchers who have gone on successful careers at Arkansas, Penn State, South Carolina, Louisville, Clemson, Rutgers, Tennessee, Furman and many more.Â
A 2004 graduate of South Carolina, Johnson-Whitfield is married to former Gamecock football standout Travis Whitfield. The couple has two daughters, Vivian and Lilly.
