Cal State East Bay University Athletics

Barbara Pierce returns to Cal State East Bay for her ninth season as head coach of Pioneer softball. During her eight years at Cal State East Bay, Pierce has coached NCAA All-West Region selections, a Cal Pac Conference Player of the Year and dozens of all-conference players.

The 2014 season marked the most successful conference campaign for the Pioneers since joining the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in 2009. CSUEB finished 27-26 overall with a program-record 18 CCAA wins and a fifth-place finish in the conference standings.

Three players earned All-CCAA honors, and junior pitcher Emly Perlich pitched East Bay's first no-hitter since 1998. Chelsie Kakela was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Assoication (NFCA) and Daktronics All-West Region Second Team's as a designated player. Kakela was also named a First Team All-CCAA Selection, and was joined by second team honorees Ali Cerminara and Kelsey LaVaute.

This past season was the team's second overall winning season over the past three years. The 2012 squad went 31-24 under Pierce and collected a program record 62 home runs in the process.

As a player at Penn State University from 2001-04, Pierce was senior captain and starting shortstop. She was named to the NCAA Regional All-Tournament Team and was a member of three NCAA Regional teams for the Nittany Lions.

Pierce received numerous Academic Honors at Penn State while working on her bachelor’s degree in education. She was named to the Dean's List three times and was a three-time recipient of the Penn State Student-Athlete Advisory Council Academic Award. Pierce was also a three-time Big Ten All-Academic honoree.

Upon graduation from Penn State, she served as Assistant Coach at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY where she assisted with all aspects of the Saints program. While at St. Lawrence, she also earned her Masters of Education.

Prior to college, she was a member of the ASA National Champion 18 & Under California Breeze team in 1999. She was a member of California Breeze teams that placed second, third, and seventh at various ASA National Tournaments.

Pierce grew up in Sacramento and also played basketball in high school. Other notable experiences include serving at Penn State University and the University of Michigan as a softball camp instructor for multiple years.