Cal State Fullerton Director of Athletics Jim Donovan announced the hiring of Gina Oaks Garcia to be the Titans new head softball coach.
“It is my honor to announce Titans Softball alumna and current assistant coach, Gina Oaks Garcia, as the fourth full-time head coach of Titans Softball,” said Donovan. “Gina’s remarkable achievements as a Titan, where she literally pitched her way into the record books, combined with her 20 years of experience as an NCAA head coach and assistant coach, made her the ideal choice to ‘come home’ and lead Titans Softball into the future.”
Oaks Garcia, the fourth head coach in the program’s Division I history, got promoted to head coach after spending the last season as the pitching coach at CSUF, where she helped lead the team to the Big West Championship title and the NCAA Regional final.
“I am thrilled and deeply honored to be named the next head softball coach at Cal State Fullerton,” said Oaks Garcia ’04 (B.S. kinesiology). “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Mr. Donovan and the search committee for trusting me to lead this incredible program and carry on the legacy and traditions of Titans Softball.”
“Coming back to my alma mater in this role is truly a full-circle moment for me. My passion for this program, its alumni, and everyone who has paved the way is deeply rooted,” Oaks Garcia said. “I can’t wait to pour my heart and soul into the next generation of Titans Softball players and provide them with an experience that shapes them into better versions of themselves both on and off the field. Titan Pride!”
In 2024, she coached Big West Pitcher of the Year Haley Rainey to a six-inning perfect game along with two no-hitters by Rainey and Staci Chambers. Her coaching staff led the conference with a 2.18 ERA, with Rainey (1.68 ERA) and Chambers (2.07 ERA) also leading the conference with the lowest opposing batting averages. Oaks Garcia’s staff earned three Big West Pitcher of the Week awards, 18 complete games, 14 shutouts and seven saves.
Oaks Garcia assumes her second head coaching position after leading the softball program at Claremont Mudd Scripps College for six seasons, where she and her staff received Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year awards in 2018 and 2023.
Prior to CMS, Oaks Garcia made successful contributions as an assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton (2005-06), Azusa Pacific University (2010-12) and Loyola Marymount University (2012-14).
During her time as a Titan from 2000-03, the two-time All-American ranked top three in program history for career runs scored (150), and ranked top 10 in total bases (314) and walks (74) while also breaking the single-game record for RBI (8) on Feb. 2, 2001. In the circle, she pitched a no-hitter at Utah State University on March 29, 2002, and ranks in the top 10 in career strikeouts (685), wins (74), complete games (72), shutouts (25) and saves (4).
Oaks Garcia’s list of accolades obtained as a Titan includes four straight All-Region awards and three straight First Team All-Big West recognitions. She became the first player in Big West history to receive First Team All-Conference at two different positions and was a national top 40 finalist for Player of the Year. With the Titans, Oaks Garcia became a four-time Big West Champion and was named the conference’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Her collegiate accomplishments earned her stints with the USA National Team (1999-2005) and professional softball teams on the East Coast and internationally for 10 years. She spent one season as a National Pro Fastpitch player for the New York New Jersey Juggernaut and four seasons with the Chicago Bandits. Internationally, Oaks Garcia played one season with Australia’s Western Flames, two seasons with Japan’s Team Honda and two seasons in Italy with Team Forli and Team Caserta.
“We extend our deepest gratitude to Kelly Ford for her 12 years of dedicated leadership at the helm of Titans Softball,” Donovan said. “As we move forward, we are beyond excited for the future of our program under the guidance of Head Coach Gina Oaks Garcia.”
“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to President Ron Rochon, Vice President for Student Affairs David Forgues, Senior Associate Athletics Director Greg Paules and the entire search committee for their diligent efforts in bringing Coach Oaks Garcia back to the Titan family.”