Linda Garza - Softball Coach - Wright State University Athletics

Linda Garza

Title:
Head Coach

Linda Garza became the ninth head coach in Wright State softball history on August 24, 2009.

n her lone season at the helm of the Raiders in 2010, Garza led Wright State to a 31-30-1 record and a 16-8 record in the Horizon League. The 31 wins marked the fifth time in school history that WSU had recorded 30 or more wins in a season. Three Raiders were selected First Team All-Horizon League in senior shortstop Kristen Bradshaw, sophomore first baseman China Frost and junior third baseman Louie Haney, while junior second baseman Justine Shilt was named to the Second Team.

After finishing third in the regular-season standings, Wright State won the Horizon League Tournament in Cleveland, rallying through the loser's bracket in winning three games the final day, including back-to-back wins over host and top seed Cleveland State. Bradshaw was selected as the tournament MVP and won the defensive award, while senior pitcher/designated player Allison Cox, senior pitcher Melanie Heyne and Shilt joined her on the All-Tournament Team. Heyne picked up the Pitching Award for the tournament and Shilt was chosen as the Batting Champion.

The Raiders then competed at the NCAA Tournament for the fourth time in the last eight seasons, going 1-2 at the Ann Arbor Regional. Wright State picked up its second-ever NCAA Tournament win by rallying for a 10-8 victory over Illinois State and nearly advanced to the championship round before falling to Notre Dame 6-5.

Along the way, WSU set single-season records for games played (62), at bats (1744), hits (538), walks (148) and stolen bases (150).

Garza came to Wright State after serving as the top assistant at Purdue since 2005 and helped lead the Boilermakers to 30 or more wins in each campaign. Purdue advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, winning twice in regional play. Among the team accomplishments this past spring was five wins over ranked teams, a 12-8 Big Ten record and the program's first NCAA Tournament victory.

Garza's duties at Purdue included all facets of the program from recruiting and scheduling to coaching the outfielders and assisting the hitters and runners. During her time, Purdue set five new offensive records and led the Big Ten in stolen bases, double plays and sacrifice flies as she coached 10 All-Big Ten and six All-Mideast selections.

Prior to her position at Purdue, Garza was an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa and the University of Arkansas.

During her time with the Hurricanes, Garza worked as an outfield coach, co-director of camps and travel coordinator. Her tenure at Tulsa followed a two-year stint at the University of Arkansas, during which Garza worked with the Lady Razorback outfielders, emphasizing footwork, fielding and throwing. She was the team's base running coach, working with players on mechanics and decision-making. She also coordinated scheduling, travel, camps and community service activities for the team.

Garza got her start in coaching during her playing days at UNLV. In addition to being an instructor at the Rebels' camps, she was an assistant coach for the Clovis Rockets Gold and 18-and-under teams. Her duties with the Rockets included organizing team practices, as well as working with players on hitting, basic skills and game strategies. After finishing her playing career at UNLV, Garza worked for one season as a student assistant coach with the team.

During her playing career from 1998 to 2001, Garza was a four-year starter at second base, third base and in the outfield. She started the last 155 games of her career, earning All-Mountain West Conference honors at third base as a senior after leading the Rebels in triples, RBI and sacrifice hits. The four-time academic all-conference honoree boasted a .262 career batting average, while laying down 45 sacrifice hits in her career, just five short of the school record.

Garza ranks among the UNLV and Mountain West single season and career top 10 lists in several categories. She ended her career among the UNLV career top 10 in doubles, walks, hits and sacrifice hits. She also owns three spots among the Mountain West single-season records lists: eighth in assists (151 in 2000), ninth in fielding double plays (14 in 2000) and 10th in sacrifice bunts (13 in 2000).

Garza earned a bachelor's degree in health education from UNLV in May 2002 and a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas Woman's University in May 2009.