Pirates name Jodie Legaspi-Kiaha as new head softball coach
COSTA MESA -- A familiar face returns to the Orange Coast College softball program as former assistant coach Jodie Legaspi-Kiaha has been selected as the new head coach, according to Athletic Director, and former softball head coach, Kevin Smith.
"We are so very excited to have Jodie back here at Orange Coast College," Smith said. "She brings a ton of softball knowledge and that, along with her successful history as a former player, was what the Pirates need to keep our program moving in the right direction."
Legaspi-Kiaha joined the Pirates in 2010 and stayed until 2012 before returning to UCLA, where she was named the Director of Softball Operations for the Bruins for the past two seasons.
"I'm extremely excited to return to Orange Coast College as the new softball coach," Legaspi-Kiaha said. "During my previous time at OCC, I fell in love with the school, its core values and potential that Coast possessed to be a premier springboard for continuing softball student-athletes. I can't say enough about the department and all of the staff and faculty that I have connected with during my previous time here. I'm excited to build a strong tradition of athletic and academic excellence within the OCC softball program."
It was a homecoming of sorts for Legaspi-Kiaha, who was a standout player for the Bruins, helping them win a NCAA championship as a freshman in 2004 to go along with a Pac-10 title in 2006. During her four seasons at UCLA, she played in 230 games, recording a .342 batting average, 43 home runs, 156 runs batted in, 128 runs scored, 230 hits, 40 doubles and 96 walks. Her name is listed on the UCLA career charts two times, as she ranks tied for seventh all-time in walks and eighth in home runs.
A member of the U.S. Junior National Team in 2002-03, Legaspi-Kiaha is one of just 25 Bruins to earn all-conference honors all four seasons (2004-07). She earned a degree in sociology and a minor in women's studies from UCLA in 2008.
"Her resume speaks for herself," Smith said. "We loved having her in our program before and we were sad to see her leave. Now, we're extremely excited to have her back."
Following her playing career, Legaspi-Kiaha continued her education at Chico State and, while coaching the Pirates, she earned her Master's Degree in coaching and athletic administration from Concordia University-Irvine in 2011. She married Ryan Kiaha in 2011 and the couple welcomed their daughter, Kellen, on Oct. 4, 2013.
