University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
L-r: Will Oldham, Lisa Fernandez, Kelly Inouye-Perez, Mysha Sataraka and Rob Schweyer
Photo by: Don Liebig/ASUCLA Photography
Softball Three-Peats as NFCA West Regional Coaching Staff of the Year
June 05, 2026 | Softball
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the third consecutive season, the UCLA softball team was named the 2026 NFCA Division I West Region Coaching Staff of the Year, the National Fastpitch Coaches Association announced Friday. The Bruins' staff earned the honor through voting by their peers in the West Region.
One of 10 coaching staffs recognized nationwide, UCLA is now eligible for the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced June 17.
The Bruins are led by The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, associate head coach Lisa Fernandez, assistant coaches Mysha Sataraka and Rob Schweyer and director of player development and data analytics Will Oldham.
The award marks the ninth time an Inouye-Perez-led staff has earned NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Inouye-Perez also received the award as an assistant coach in 2000. She is a three-time NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year recipient, winning twice as a head coach (2010 and 2019) and once as an assistant (2004).
In her 20th season at the helm, Inouye-Perez guided UCLA to an NCAA-record 34th appearance at the Women's College World Series. The Bruins came one win shy of advancing to the national semifinals. UCLA has now reached the WCWS in 10 of the last 11 possible seasons under Inouye-Perez.
The Bruins produced one of the most dominant offensive seasons in college softball history, setting NCAA single-season records for home runs (209), runs scored (672), slugging percentage (.825), on-base percentage (.490), total bases (1,408) and extra-base hits (334). A program-record eight players finished the season with double-digit home run totals. UCLA's previous high was five players, accomplished in 2003 and 2010.
UCLA's offense was coached by Fernandez, Sataraka and Oldham.
Seniors Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery turned in two of the most prolific offensive seasons ever. Grant set NCAA single-season records for home runs (42) and slugging percentage (1.308), surpassing the previous marks of 37 home runs by Laura Espinoza in 1995 and a 1.270 slugging percentage by Jen Yee in 2010. Grant also led the nation in on-base percentage (.639) and walks (76).
Woolery finished with 117 RBIs and 226 total bases, both ranking second in NCAA single-season history. Her 36 home runs rank fourth all-time in NCAA history and third nationally this season. Woolery also ranked among the nation's top 10 hitters with a .497 batting average and 97 hits.
Grant and Woolery, who were named NFCA First Team All-Americans for the second consecutive season, became the first teammates in NCAA Division I history to each hit at least 30 home runs in the same season. Grant was named a top-three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, while Woolery was among the top 10 finalists.
Sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp, who hit 17 home runs from the leadoff spot, earned NFCA Third Team All-America honors.
Freshmen Bri Alejandre and Aleena Garcia recorded the two highest home run totals by freshmen in program history, hitting 24 and 22, respectively.
Senior Taylor Tinsley served as UCLA's workhorse in the circle, logging 235.0 of the team's 381.1 innings pitched. Her 61.6% workload was the highest by a Bruin pitcher since Anjelica Selden in 2006. Tinsley finished the season with a 33-8 record, tied for the third-most wins in a single season in program history. Her 48 appearances and 235.0 innings pitched rank third and 10th, respectively, in the UCLA record book.
Tinsley threw 835 of UCLA's 883 pitches in the postseason, including the final 737 pitches of the season. She closed the year with 18 consecutive appearances, the longest streak by a Bruin pitcher since Jessica Hall in 2012.
One of 10 coaching staffs recognized nationwide, UCLA is now eligible for the NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year award, which will be announced June 17.
The Bruins are led by The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez, associate head coach Lisa Fernandez, assistant coaches Mysha Sataraka and Rob Schweyer and director of player development and data analytics Will Oldham.
The award marks the ninth time an Inouye-Perez-led staff has earned NFCA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Inouye-Perez also received the award as an assistant coach in 2000. She is a three-time NFCA National Coaching Staff of the Year recipient, winning twice as a head coach (2010 and 2019) and once as an assistant (2004).
In her 20th season at the helm, Inouye-Perez guided UCLA to an NCAA-record 34th appearance at the Women's College World Series. The Bruins came one win shy of advancing to the national semifinals. UCLA has now reached the WCWS in 10 of the last 11 possible seasons under Inouye-Perez.
The Bruins produced one of the most dominant offensive seasons in college softball history, setting NCAA single-season records for home runs (209), runs scored (672), slugging percentage (.825), on-base percentage (.490), total bases (1,408) and extra-base hits (334). A program-record eight players finished the season with double-digit home run totals. UCLA's previous high was five players, accomplished in 2003 and 2010.
UCLA's offense was coached by Fernandez, Sataraka and Oldham.
Seniors Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery turned in two of the most prolific offensive seasons ever. Grant set NCAA single-season records for home runs (42) and slugging percentage (1.308), surpassing the previous marks of 37 home runs by Laura Espinoza in 1995 and a 1.270 slugging percentage by Jen Yee in 2010. Grant also led the nation in on-base percentage (.639) and walks (76).
Woolery finished with 117 RBIs and 226 total bases, both ranking second in NCAA single-season history. Her 36 home runs rank fourth all-time in NCAA history and third nationally this season. Woolery also ranked among the nation's top 10 hitters with a .497 batting average and 97 hits.
Grant and Woolery, who were named NFCA First Team All-Americans for the second consecutive season, became the first teammates in NCAA Division I history to each hit at least 30 home runs in the same season. Grant was named a top-three finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, while Woolery was among the top 10 finalists.
Sophomore outfielder Rylee Slimp, who hit 17 home runs from the leadoff spot, earned NFCA Third Team All-America honors.
Freshmen Bri Alejandre and Aleena Garcia recorded the two highest home run totals by freshmen in program history, hitting 24 and 22, respectively.
Senior Taylor Tinsley served as UCLA's workhorse in the circle, logging 235.0 of the team's 381.1 innings pitched. Her 61.6% workload was the highest by a Bruin pitcher since Anjelica Selden in 2006. Tinsley finished the season with a 33-8 record, tied for the third-most wins in a single season in program history. Her 48 appearances and 235.0 innings pitched rank third and 10th, respectively, in the UCLA record book.
Tinsley threw 835 of UCLA's 883 pitches in the postseason, including the final 737 pitches of the season. She closed the year with 18 consecutive appearances, the longest streak by a Bruin pitcher since Jessica Hall in 2012.
Players Mentioned
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