10/30/2020 Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball - Fresno State Athletics
https://gobulldogs.com/news/2016/7/5/fresno-native-linda-garza-returns-home-to-lead-bulldog-softball.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1S67UU1V1wvxWfchtzX1hPk… 1/4
Unlimited for Just
$30/Month
Garza looks to add to the program’s rich history with
passion and intensity as she becomes the fourth head
softball coach at Fresno State
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
Fresno native Linda Garza
returns home to lead Bulldog
softball
77//55//22001166 44::3399::0000 PPMM || BByy:: JJaassoonn KKeellmm // CCoommmmuunniiccaattiioonnss AAssssiissttaanntt
Great for families
Search homes
Softball
10/30/2020 Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball - Fresno State Athletics
https://gobulldogs.com/news/2016/7/5/fresno-native-linda-garza-returns-home-to-lead-bulldog-softball.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1S67UU1V1wvxWfchtzX1hPk… 2/4
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.
Great for families
Search homes
Softball
10/30/2020 Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball - Fresno State Athletics
https://gobulldogs.com/news/2016/7/5/fresno-native-linda-garza-returns-home-to-lead-bulldog-softball.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1S67UU1V1wvxWfchtzX1hPk… 3/4
"Be Bold" – The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio and ESPN Deportes 1600
AM.
Related Videos
Pride of the Valley
3: The Greatest
Story Ever Told
10.21.20
Fresno State
Football: Game
Week #1 (2020)
10.20.20
Fresno State
Bulldogs App
10.19.20
Kalen DeBoer
weekly press
conference
(10.19.20)
10.19.20
Related Stories
Dolcini named
CoSIDA
Academic All-
District
05.14.20
Three Bulldogs
earn All-MW
honors
05.06.20
Fresno State
finishes in Top 25
of Final Polls
04.08.20
Dolcini, Rohleder
sweep MW
Weekly awards
03.10.20
© 2020 Fresno State Athletics
Table Mountain logo
Great for families
Search homes
Softball
10/30/2020 Fresno native Linda Garza returns home to lead Bulldog softball - Fresno State Athletics
https://gobulldogs.com/news/2016/7/5/fresno-native-linda-garza-returns-home-to-lead-bulldog-softball.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1S67UU1V1wvxWfchtzX1hPk… 4/4
1620 E Bulldog Lane, M/S of 87,
Fresno CA 93740
Terms of Service
Privacy Policy
video platform powered by CBS Sports Digital
Great for families
Search homes
Softball
Dr. Joseph I. Castro Papers
