CHICAGO – Megan Coronado and the UIC softball team announced the addition of two assistant coaches Tuesday for the upcoming 2026 season: former UIC softball player Natalie Hernandez and NFCA Hall of Famer Eugene Lenti. 
 
Natalie Hernandez
Hernandez spent the last nine seasons at Transylvania University in Lexington, Ky., as the assistant softball coach. While with the Pioneers, Hernandez helped lead the team to a 296-95 record, six NCAA regional appearances, and one super regional appearance. 

"Natalie represents everything it means to be a Flame: a fierce competitor, a relentless worker, and a proud UIC alum," said head coach Megan Coronado. "Her experience as a pro, her success as a coach, and her deep ties to this program will help us reignite UIC softball with pride and purpose. We are lucky to have her and bring her back home."

No stranger to UIC, Hernandez played for the Flames as a four-year letterwinner from 2011-2014. During her four-year playing career, Hernandez earned All-League Newcomer, Horizon League All-Tournament team, Horizon League Preseason Second Team, All-Horizon League First Team, and NFCA All-Great Lakes Region Third Team honors. 

The California native finished her career for the Flames with 582 at-bats, 109 runs, 201 hits, 24 home runs, 106 RBIs, a .543 SLG%, and 29 stolen bases. After her time with the Flames, Hernandez spent five summers as a professional in the National Pro Fastpitch league with the Chicago Bandits before retiring in 2018. 
 
 
Eugene Lenti
Lenti, an NFCA Hall of Famer, joins the UIC staff following a five-year career at Auburn University as an assistant coach. While with the Tigers, Lenti helped lead the team to a 155-92-1 record and four NCAA regional appearances. 

Prior to his time at Auburn, Lenti coached locally in Chicago and is well known for his time spent as DePaul University's all-time winningest head coach during his 37-year tenure with the Blue Demons. Between his time as coach from 1980-87 and again from 1990-2018, Lenti won 1,327 games, was named part of the BIG EAST Coaching Staff of the Year six times, C-USA Coach of the Year once, Mid-Continent Conference (The Summit League) Coach of the Year three times, and North Star Conference Coach of the Year once. 

"Bringing Coach Lenti back to Chicago is a full-circle moment for me," said Megan Coronado. "I had the privilege of playing for him and leaning on him as a mentor in my other coaching endeavors, and now I get to coach alongside one of the winningest coaches in NCAA softball history. His legacy, leadership, and love for the game will be instrumental as we build something special here at UIC."

Additionally, Lenti was named C-USA Women's Coach of the Decade in 2005 and C-USA Softball Coach of the Decade. In 1999, he was named the NFCA National Coach of the Year after leading the Blue Demons to a 54-win season, breaking the school record. During that record-breaking season, the team reached the semifinals of the Women's College World Series (WCWS).

During his tenure at the helm of DePaul softball, Lenti led the team to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, with four trips to the WCWS.
 
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UIC_Softball and @UICFlames) and Instagram (@uic_softball and @uicflames)
 
#ChicagosCollegeTeam