FULLERTON, Calif. – 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 Titan Softball alumna and current assistant coach, Gina Oaks Garcia, as the fourth full-time head coach of Titan Softball," Donovan said. "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 Titan Softball into the future."

Oaks Garcia, the fourth head coach in the program's Division I history, gets promoted to head coach after spending the last season as the pitching coach at Cal State Fullerton, where she helped lead the team to the Big West Championship title and to the NCAA Regional final. 

"I am thrilled and deeply honored to be named the next Head Softball Coach at Cal State Fullerton," Oaks Garcia said. "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 Titan 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 Titan 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 SCIAC 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 (2005-2006), Azusa Pacific (2010-2012) and Loyola Marymount (2012-2014).

During her time as a Titan (2000-2003), 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) against Kansas on Feb. 2, 2001. In the circle, she pitched a no-hitter at Utah State 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 five seasons as a National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) player for the New York New Jersey Juggernaut (one season) and the Chicago Bandits (four seasons). 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.

Away from the field, Oaks Garcia is a wife to Aaron Garcia with whom she shares three children: Grady (10), Hazel (8) and Garrett (5). She is also the proud owner of Gogettersoftball LLC which specializes in pitching, hitting and defense training.

"We extend our deepest gratitude to Kelly Ford for her 12 years of dedicated leadership at the helm of Titan 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 AD Greg Paules, and the entire search committee for their diligent efforts in bringing Coach Oaks-Garcia back to the Titan family." 

Committee members:
Jim Donovan, Director of Athletics (co-chair)
Sara Perry, Assistant AD, CFO & SWA (co-chair)
Sydney Shipley, Assistant AD for Compliance
Dr Michael Perez, Faculty Athletics Representative
Dawn Macy, Director, Center for Internships and Community Engagement
IZ Smith, Facility/Event Manager (Goodwin and Anderson Family Fields)
Samantha Huerta, Titan Athletics Administrative Coordinator and Assistant Cross Country Coach

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WATCH THE TITANS ON ESPN+
Titans fans can now watch home contests exclusively on ESPN+. Cal State Fullerton has built a top-tier production studio to give the viewers an ESPN quality production for Titans Athletics. Additionally, all schools in the Big West Conference are committed to producing ESPN quality streams which will allow fans to watch the Titans on ESPN+ for all road conference games.