Kristi Lansford

Kristi Lansford is a veteran educator, coach, and athletic leader with more than 26 years of experience in collegiate softball and higher education. She has served as a Visiting Kinesiology Lecturer at Texas A&M International University, where she taught courses in physiology, exercise science, and educational technology while mentoring students pursuing careers in health and sport sciences. Kristi holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology and Exercise Science from Texas A&M University–Kingsville, along with graduate training in Curriculum and Instruction, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and student-centered education.

Throughout her career, Kristi has held head coaching positions at San Francisco State University, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Laredo College, and served as an assistant coach at California State University, Bakersfield. She also founded and led a collegiate softball program at a two-year college in Laredo, building the program in an underserved region and describing that period as one of the most rewarding of her career. Prior to her collegiate coaching career, she served four years in the United States Air Force, where she also competed in softball, and later returned to graduate school in 2015 to complete a second master’s degree in kinesiology. Her teams have achieved national recognition, including a Women’s College World Series appearance and a fourth-place national finish at San Francisco State.

Kristi is known for prioritizing athlete development, life skills, and leadership above wins and losses, emphasizing critical thinking, autonomy, and confidence in her athletes. Honesty, empowerment, and advancing women in leadership roles in sport are central to her approach. She is currently open to opportunities in kinesiology instruction, coaching, athletic director, and assistant athletic director roles, bringing a proven record of program building, mentorship, and academic and athletic excellence to institutions seeking transformative leadership.

• California State University, Bakersfield - BS
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville - MS, Kinesiology and Exercise Science
• MS, Kinesiology and Exercise Science - MA Education, Curriculum and Instruction