Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball program has a new leader as Director of Athletics Jim Bartko announced the hiring of Linda Garza as the fourth softball coach in Bulldog history on Tuesday.

"With Linda Garza, we found a coach with all the attributes we were looking for," Bartko said. "She is driven, a proven winner and a role model with high integrity. She has reconstructed the UC Riverside program over the last four years, leading the Highlanders to new heights and back-to-back 30-win seasons. We are thrilled to welcome her to the Bulldog family and look forward to having her take over our historic program."

Garza, a Fresno native and Hoover High graduate, joins the 'Dogs with over 14 years of collegiate coaching experience, including the last four seasons at the helm of the UC Riverside program in which the team won 39 and 32 games in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Garza also led Wright State to a Horizon League title and an automatic NCAA tournament berth in 2010.

"I want to thank President Castro and Jim Bartko for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Garza said. "I grew up watching Bulldog softball and I always envisioned coming home to be a part of the rich tradition of this program and community. Coach [Trisha] Ford and these wonderful student-athletes have done amazing things and I'm excited and eager to build upon their success."

Garza hopes to bring her core values of blue-collar work ethic, attention to detail and a commitment to success to the Bulldog program and is dedicated to growing its relationship with the softball community. She is also determined to upholding academic standards for the student-athletes and developing leaders in the classroom, around campus and in the community.

In 2013, Garza took over an 11-year-old UC Riverside program that had yet to have a winning season and averaged only 17.4 wins per season. The Highlanders went 13-33 in 2011 and by 2015 she led them to a 39-17 record and the 14th-best ERA (2.13) in the nation. At UC Riverside, she coached over 10 All-Big West student-athletes, three NFCA all-region performers, and back-to-back 20-game winning pitchers in 2015 and 2016.

Prior to her time at UC Riverside, Garza was an associate head coach at Cal Poly (2010-12), head coach at Wright State (2009-10), and an assistant coach at Purdue (2005-09), Tulsa (2004-05) and Arkansas (2002-04).

Garza was a star infielder at UNLV from 1998-2001, posting a .262 career batting average and earning a spot on the All-Mountain West team. She received her bachelor's degree in school health education with a minor in athletic coaching and physical education in 2002 and earned her master's degree in kinesiology in 2009 from Texas Woman's University.

Garza's ties to the San Joaquin Valley have remained strong over the years as she has ran many camps for club teams such as the Fresno Force, Central California Krush and Central Cal Dirt Dogs.

Garza will be formally introduced at a press conference in the coming weeks.

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Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball

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