l-r: Kirk Walker, Madilyn Nickles-Camarena
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
UCLA Softball Announces Role Changes for Walker, Nickles-Camarena
October 02, 2024 | Softball
Longtime UCLA softball assistant and associate head coach Kirk Walker will be taking on a new role as Director of Softball Administration while Madilyn Nickles-Camarena will join the full-time staff as an Assistant Coach. The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez announced these changes Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Walker completed his 23rd season on the UCLA coaching staff in 2024. Over his two stints in Westwood from 1984-94 and 2013-24, Walker helped the Bruins to seven NCAA Championships, 18 Women's College World Series (WCWS) appearances, 10 regular-season conference championships and an 828-156-1 (.840) record.
"After 40 years of on-field coaching, I'm truly excited to serve UCLA in this new role as Director of Softball Administration," Walker said. "I will thoroughly enjoy using my experience and skillset administratively and continue assisting with the development of our student-athletes and coaches beyond the playing field. I've spent a majority of my life being a part of this program since I was 18 years old, and will continue to give all I have to sustain the success of the greatest program in the history of our sport. "
"Kirk has been a true asset to building UCLA softball's tradition of success," Inouye-Perez said. "He has helped recruit, develop and grow our athletes into strong women. I will forever be grateful to have Kirk as a mentor and that he came back to help me in so many ways as a head coach. Kirk impacts lives with his influence and will always be Bruin Family for life!"
Walker's UCLA coaching career began as an undergraduate assistant in 1984, and he was on staff for 11 seasons through 1994 before leaving to be the head coach at Oregon State from 1995-2012. The all-time winningest coach in program history and the fifth-winningest in Oregon State history regardless of sport, Walker posted a 594-490-3 record (.548 winning percentage) and eight seasons with 40 or more wins. The Beavers made the postseason 10 times with Walker at the helm, including the 2006 campaign, in which Walker led Oregon State to its first appearance at the WCWS.
Walker, who has manned the third base coach's box since his return to UCLA, was on the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2019 and NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year six times. He has served as an assistant under three UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame Softball Coaches: Sharron Backus, Sue Enquist and Inouye-Perez.
Nickles-Camarena, who is transitioning from her role as a graduate assistant coach in 2024, has succeeded on the sport's biggest stages.
"I am so grateful and excited to join the elite coaching staff and program that has developed me as an athlete, and now as a coach," Nickles-Camarena said. "This program has been my home for the past eight years. The family I have gained through UCLA Athletics is second to none. I can't wait to get to work with this next generation of Bruins and carry on the legacy of UCLA softball."
"We are excited to have Bubba Nickles-Camarena join our coaching staff in 2025," Inouye-Perez said. "Bubba is one of our most decorated Bruins and will bring her experience and excitement to Easton Stadium everyday. She will be a valuable asset to our coaching staff. Bubba will work with our hitters and outfielders and will coach first base this upcoming season."
In 2021, Nickles-Camarena was a Silver Medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games for Team USA, playing in two games and making one start in right field before returning to UCLA for the spring college season. Two years prior, she led the Bruins to a record 12th NCAA Championship in 2019 as the team leader in hits (82), home runs (18), runs batted in (72) and slugging percentage (.714).
Nickles-Camarena earned NFCA Second Team All-American honors in 2019 and finished her Bruins' playing career as a three-time All-Pac-12 recipient.
Nickles-Camarena has played professional softball since graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 2021. The last three summers, she has played in the Athletes Unlimited League where she was recently crowned the 2024 AUX Champion. Internationally, Nickles-Camarena competed with the Toyota Motor Company from 2022-23 where she won a Japan Diamond League Championship.
Walker completed his 23rd season on the UCLA coaching staff in 2024. Over his two stints in Westwood from 1984-94 and 2013-24, Walker helped the Bruins to seven NCAA Championships, 18 Women's College World Series (WCWS) appearances, 10 regular-season conference championships and an 828-156-1 (.840) record.
"After 40 years of on-field coaching, I'm truly excited to serve UCLA in this new role as Director of Softball Administration," Walker said. "I will thoroughly enjoy using my experience and skillset administratively and continue assisting with the development of our student-athletes and coaches beyond the playing field. I've spent a majority of my life being a part of this program since I was 18 years old, and will continue to give all I have to sustain the success of the greatest program in the history of our sport. "
"Kirk has been a true asset to building UCLA softball's tradition of success," Inouye-Perez said. "He has helped recruit, develop and grow our athletes into strong women. I will forever be grateful to have Kirk as a mentor and that he came back to help me in so many ways as a head coach. Kirk impacts lives with his influence and will always be Bruin Family for life!"
Walker's UCLA coaching career began as an undergraduate assistant in 1984, and he was on staff for 11 seasons through 1994 before leaving to be the head coach at Oregon State from 1995-2012. The all-time winningest coach in program history and the fifth-winningest in Oregon State history regardless of sport, Walker posted a 594-490-3 record (.548 winning percentage) and eight seasons with 40 or more wins. The Beavers made the postseason 10 times with Walker at the helm, including the 2006 campaign, in which Walker led Oregon State to its first appearance at the WCWS.
Walker, who has manned the third base coach's box since his return to UCLA, was on the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2019 and NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year six times. He has served as an assistant under three UCLA Athletic Hall of Fame Softball Coaches: Sharron Backus, Sue Enquist and Inouye-Perez.
Nickles-Camarena, who is transitioning from her role as a graduate assistant coach in 2024, has succeeded on the sport's biggest stages.
"I am so grateful and excited to join the elite coaching staff and program that has developed me as an athlete, and now as a coach," Nickles-Camarena said. "This program has been my home for the past eight years. The family I have gained through UCLA Athletics is second to none. I can't wait to get to work with this next generation of Bruins and carry on the legacy of UCLA softball."
"We are excited to have Bubba Nickles-Camarena join our coaching staff in 2025," Inouye-Perez said. "Bubba is one of our most decorated Bruins and will bring her experience and excitement to Easton Stadium everyday. She will be a valuable asset to our coaching staff. Bubba will work with our hitters and outfielders and will coach first base this upcoming season."
In 2021, Nickles-Camarena was a Silver Medalist at the Tokyo Olympic Games for Team USA, playing in two games and making one start in right field before returning to UCLA for the spring college season. Two years prior, she led the Bruins to a record 12th NCAA Championship in 2019 as the team leader in hits (82), home runs (18), runs batted in (72) and slugging percentage (.714).
Nickles-Camarena earned NFCA Second Team All-American honors in 2019 and finished her Bruins' playing career as a three-time All-Pac-12 recipient.
Nickles-Camarena has played professional softball since graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology in 2021. The last three summers, she has played in the Athletes Unlimited League where she was recently crowned the 2024 AUX Champion. Internationally, Nickles-Camarena competed with the Toyota Motor Company from 2022-23 where she won a Japan Diamond League Championship.
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