GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Head Coach Tim Walton announced on Friday morning that Kendra Falby and Kara Hammock are both joining the 2026 Florida softball coaching staff as student assistant coaches.

The former Gators both graduated in December.

The back-to-back Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner in center field and a 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Second Team All-American, Falby will assist Florida’s hitters and outfielders. She will also coach first base during games.

Hammock, who spent her senior season with the Gators in 2025, will use her pitching experience to assist with Florida’s hitters, including throwing batting practice.

Falby is one of the most accomplished players in program history. She finished her four-year career in Gainesville tied for first in runs scored (259), second in hits (337) and stolen bases (118) and third in career batting average (.393).

The Odessa, Fla., native, led the Gators in hits for four-straight seasons and in batting average in three of four seasons.

Hammock, a right-handed pitcher from Mechanicsville, Va., made 25 appearances in the circle for Florida.

She posted a 9-2 record last season, including a 3-1 mark in Southeastern Conference play, earning a top-5 victory at No. 5/4 Texas A&M.

Prior to her season at Florida, Hammock spent three seasons at UNCW and was a three-time All-Coastal Athletic Association selection in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Falby is currently pursuing her sport management certificate and Hammock is enrolled in the sport management master’s program.

Florida opens the 2026 season vs. Illinois State on Feb. 6 at the USF-Rawlings Invitational in Tampa, Fla.

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