Linda Garza

Linda Garza has been named head coach of the Nevada softball program, Director of Athletics Doug Knuth announced on July 2, 2021.

Garza, the sixth head coach in program history, comes to Nevada after spending the previous five seasons as head coach at Fresno State.

At Fresno State, Garza compiled a 161-82 record with 21 Mountain West all-conference selections, 12 NFCA All-Region honorees, three postseason appearances, including two NCAA Tournaments, two Mountain West Pitcher of the Year recipients, two Mountain West Freshman of the Year awardees, one Mountain West Player of the Year recipient, one 2021 USA Top 25 Player of the Year watch list selection, one 2019 Shutt Sports NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 honoree, and one Mountain West title.

Prior to Fresno State, she spent four seasons as head coach at UC Riverside, winning 39 and 32 games in 2015 and 2016, respectively. After taking over at UC Riverside in 2012, Garza took a program that went 13-33 in 2011 to a 39-17 record, a 14th-best ERA (2.13) in the country and program-best RPI ranking of 70 in 2015. She registered the program’s first back-to-back 30-win seasons since the Highlanders joined the Big West in 2002. She coached over 10 All-Big West student-athletes, three NFCA all-region performers, and back-to-back 20-game winning pitchers in 2015-16.

Before taking over at UC Riverside, Garza served as associate head coach at Cal Poly from 2010-12, head coach at Wright State from 2009-10, and an assistant coach at Purdue (2005-09), Tulsa (2004-05) and Arkansas (2002-04).

While at Cal Poly, Garza coached the outfield and assisted with hitting, the infield and day-to-day operations of the program.

As head coach at Wright State in 2010, she guided the Raiders to the Horizon League Tournament title, advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Wright State also set single-season program records in hits (538), walks (148) and stolen bases (150).

During her tenure as assistant coach at Purdue, she helped the Boilermakers reach 30-plus wins in each of her four seasons.

Garza began her coaching career as a student assistant at UNLV following a standout playing career for the Rebels from 1998-2001. As a four-year starter, she recorded a .262 career batting average and All-MW accolades while earning a spot in the program’s top 10 in doubles, hits, walks and sacrifices. In addition, she received four All-MW academic honors.

Garza earned her bachelor’s degree in school health education with a minor in athletic coaching and physical education in 2002. Garza graduated with her master’s degree in kinesiology in 2009 from Texas Woman’s University.