University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
L-r: Will Oldham, Bubba Nickles-Camarena, Lisa Fernandez, Kelly Inouye-Perez, Kirk Walker and Rob Schweyer
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA Photography
Softball Named NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
June 06, 2025 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. โ For a second straight season, the UCLA softball team was honored as the 2025 NFCA Division I West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year, it was announced Friday morning. The Bruins' staff was voted as the Regional CSOY by their peers in the West Region.
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One of 10 coaching staffs to be honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, UCLA is now eligible for the National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced June 19.
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The Bruins are led by The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, the Mark Kalmansohn Associate Head Softball Coach Lisa Fernandez, assistant coaches Bubba Nickles-Camarena and Rob Schweyer and director of player development and data analytics Will Oldham. Assisting the team in support staff roles are Director of Softball Administration Kirk Walker and Director of Operations Claire Donyanavard.
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This marks the eighth time an Inouye-Perez-led team has been awarded NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year (2010, '14, '15, '16, '19, 2021, '24 and '25). Inouye-Perez also won the award as an assistant in the 2000 season. Inouye-Perez is a two-time winner of the National Coaching Staff of the Year award as a head coach (2010 and 2019) and once as an assistant (2004).
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In her 19th season, Inouye-Perez (873-222-1) guided the Bruins to their 33rd WCWS appearance in program history and came one win shy of reaching the national semifinals in 2025. She has now reached the WCWS in nine of the last 10 possible seasons at the helm of the program (excludes 2020). Additionally, UCLA finished runner-up in its inaugural season in the Big Ten, marking the 10th straight year Inouye-Perez has helped the Bruins to a top-2 regular-season placement in conference play.
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UCLA was led by one of the most high-powered offenses in the country, ranking top 10 nationally in runs scored (485), home runs (101) and slugging percentage (.591). UCLA set a program record with 28 mercy-rule victories and ranked second in the country with a +312 run differential. The Bruins' pitching staff was equally effective with a 1.07 WHIP (3rd in NCAA DI), 18 shutouts (5th) and 2.47 ERA (10th).
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Four student-athletes received NFCA All-America recognition this season: first team selections Megan Grant (1B) and Jordan Woolery (3B) and third team honorees Savannah Pola (2B) and Taylor Tinsley (P).
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Woolery (Top 10) and Grant (Top 25) were both named finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The two combined for one of the most dominant single-season performances by a slugging duo in UCLA history. Grant set the Big Ten single-season record with 26 home runs while Woolery bashed for 23 homers to become just the second Bruins duo to each homer 20-plus times in a year. Woolery's 86 runs batted in rank second-most in UCLA's single-season records.
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Inouye-Perez has now produced 24 First Team All-America citations and 50 total All-America citations in her 19-year head coaching career.
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One of 10 coaching staffs to be honored by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, UCLA is now eligible for the National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced June 19.
ย
The Bruins are led by The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, the Mark Kalmansohn Associate Head Softball Coach Lisa Fernandez, assistant coaches Bubba Nickles-Camarena and Rob Schweyer and director of player development and data analytics Will Oldham. Assisting the team in support staff roles are Director of Softball Administration Kirk Walker and Director of Operations Claire Donyanavard.
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This marks the eighth time an Inouye-Perez-led team has been awarded NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year (2010, '14, '15, '16, '19, 2021, '24 and '25). Inouye-Perez also won the award as an assistant in the 2000 season. Inouye-Perez is a two-time winner of the National Coaching Staff of the Year award as a head coach (2010 and 2019) and once as an assistant (2004).
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In her 19th season, Inouye-Perez (873-222-1) guided the Bruins to their 33rd WCWS appearance in program history and came one win shy of reaching the national semifinals in 2025. She has now reached the WCWS in nine of the last 10 possible seasons at the helm of the program (excludes 2020). Additionally, UCLA finished runner-up in its inaugural season in the Big Ten, marking the 10th straight year Inouye-Perez has helped the Bruins to a top-2 regular-season placement in conference play.
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UCLA was led by one of the most high-powered offenses in the country, ranking top 10 nationally in runs scored (485), home runs (101) and slugging percentage (.591). UCLA set a program record with 28 mercy-rule victories and ranked second in the country with a +312 run differential. The Bruins' pitching staff was equally effective with a 1.07 WHIP (3rd in NCAA DI), 18 shutouts (5th) and 2.47 ERA (10th).
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Four student-athletes received NFCA All-America recognition this season: first team selections Megan Grant (1B) and Jordan Woolery (3B) and third team honorees Savannah Pola (2B) and Taylor Tinsley (P).
ย
Woolery (Top 10) and Grant (Top 25) were both named finalists for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. The two combined for one of the most dominant single-season performances by a slugging duo in UCLA history. Grant set the Big Ten single-season record with 26 home runs while Woolery bashed for 23 homers to become just the second Bruins duo to each homer 20-plus times in a year. Woolery's 86 runs batted in rank second-most in UCLA's single-season records.
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Inouye-Perez has now produced 24 First Team All-America citations and 50 total All-America citations in her 19-year head coaching career.
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Players Mentioned
UTIL
/ Softball
UTIL
/ Softball
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/ Softball
INF
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