After serving as the graduate assistant for the Salem softball program, Kierston Garner was named as head coach in the fall of 2018 with the departure of her mentor Scott Long. Garner is an alumna of Salem, who graduated with a bachelor of arts in psychology and a minor in coaching in May 2016.

Garner piloted the Spirits to a 25-17 (10-7 USA South Conference) overall mark in her first year at the helm. Salem put together a pair of six-game winning streaks, the first of which occurred from March 17-March 20, to mark the fifth consecutive 20-win season for the program. The second six-game winning streak came in league play from April 3-7, resulting in league triumphs over Greensboro and Mary Baldwin.

After winning two of three games against Greensboro on April 18, in the opening round of the USA South Conference Tournament, Garner's squad captured victories against Piedmont (April 26) and Meredith (April 26) in the second round at LaGrange. The Spirits suffered back-to-back setbacks to Maryville and Averett the following afternoon, ending their bid for the league crown.

In 2020, Garner's second year on the bench, the Spirits were 9-5 on the slate, which was shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Salem defended its home turf during the season, finishing 4-2, and rattled off nine straight wins from Feb. 29 through March 11. The streak, which began with a 4-1 win in the second game at Huntingdon, tied the 2017 unit for the longest winning streak in program history.

Along with gaining experience in the collegiate coaching ranks, Garner served as a softball coach and assistant volleyball coach at North Stokes High School. Her passion for Salem and its student-athletes resulted in a volunteer assistant coach position in 2017. The Spirits were co-champions of the USA South Conference East Division that season.

Garner returned for the 2018 season, serving as Long’s graduate assistant as she began pursuing her master’s degree in school counseling, which resulted in a regular season championship and a place in the USA South Conference Tournament Championship versus Maryville. In the summer of 2018, Garner was elevated to the position of head coach after Long’s departure from the program. In her first year at the helm, 2019, Salem finished the season with a 25-17 mark and a third-place finish in the USA South Conference Tournament.

During her four-year collegiate career Garner, an infielder, was a four-time Great South Athletic Conference all league performer. She was named to the All-Freshman Team and North Carolina All-State second team in 2013 as a first-year. Garner later grabbed NCAA All-South Region First Team honors in 2016, when she was also named as the Great South Conference Player of the Year.

Garner finished her senior season in 2016 ranked in multiple NCAA DIII statistical categories. She finished was among the Top-25 performers in batting average (.564—12th), home runs (18—15th), home runs per game (.49—16th), and slugging percentage (1.154—21st).

In addition to playing softball at Salem, Garner worked alongside the athletic director in order to smoothly coordinate and facilitate on-campus athletic events. In addition to those duties I worked with my supervisor on paperwork, scheduling and facilitating events and tournaments as well as serving as a game day host for incoming visitors to ensure a pleasant experience. Garner served as the Vice President of Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.