UC San Diego Softball Camps
Coaching Staff
Jessica Millsap wrapped up her third season as an assistant coach for the UC San Diego softball team in 2012 after being hired in the fall of 2009. Millsap plays a key role in many aspects of the program, including on-the-field coaching, recruiting and camp organization. The Tritons have won a school-record 45 games in each of the past two seasons and have made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II national title game. UCSD finished runner-up in 2012 after winning the national championship for the first time in 2011. Millsap helped UCSD to earn National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011 on the heels of the program's first-ever national championship. The staff then went on to earn NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2012. Primarily working with Triton pitchers and outfielders, Millsap guided a 2011 Triton pitching staff that had the eighth-lowest ERA (1.44) in the nation and the lowest ERA in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA). Ace Camille Gaito finished with the second-most wins in the nation and the fourth-lowest ERA. Moreover, UCSD regular starting outfielders Kris Lesovsky, Katrin Gabriel and Taylor Sepulveda all boasted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. Between January 2007 and May 2009, Millsap served as the top assistant coach for Biola University, helping the squad to an overall record of 77-63. The 2007 campaign turned out to be especially spectacular as the Eagles advanced to the second round of the NAIA Region II Tournament under the leadership of Jessica and her sister, head coach Carissa Kalaba. Carissa is now the head coach at Utah State. Before her experience at Biola, Millsap spent time as an assistant coach for the Jets Gold 18U squad in Agoura Hills and head coach at nearby Arcadia High School. Millsap graduated from Chatham University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. As a senior there in Pittsburgh, Pa., she captained the Chatham Cougars' softball team while earning "Most Valuable Player" honors.
Nichole Willis enters her third season as an assistant coach at UC San Diego in 2013. A former All-American at Fresno State, Willis assists in all aspects of the coaching process, including recruiting, academics, development, and administrative duties. She also takes a particular focus in coaching outfield defense and hitting. The Tritons won a school-record 45 games in each of her first two seasons and have made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II national title game. UCSD finished as the national runner-up in 2012 after winning the national championship for the first time in 2011. She was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011 and the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2012. Willis shared her knowledge of life behind the plate with freshmen catchers Charly Swanberg and Caitlin Brown, two critical components of the Tritons' national championship run. In addition, Willis assisted Gerckens with Triton hitters in 2011, helping UCSD to a .324 batting average and 19 RBI during the NCAA Division II Championship Finals. Willis came to La Jolla after serving as a varsity assistant coach at Clovis High School in Central California, where she was the team's strength and conditioning coordinator in 2010. Prior to joining the CHS staff, she was an assistant with the Fresno Force U18 Gold club team and helped lead the squad to back-to-back appearances at Nationals. Willis has also served as a catching and hitting instructor for the last three years and worked briefly as a personal trainer. Willis was a four-year starter for head coach Margie Wright at Fresno State, where she caught for a pair of Olympians in Jamie Southern and Robin Mackin. A three-time Easton All-American, she hit .299 for her career with 29 doubles, 23 home runs, 127 RBI and 103 runs scored. She was named the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year in 2004 and went on to earn all-conference accolades in three of her four seasons with the Bulldogs.
Allison May is entering her third season as an assistant coach at UC San Diego in the spring of 2013. During her first season, she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II National Coaching Staff of the Year in 2011. May was also part of the staff to earn recognition as the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2012. The Tritons have won a school-record 45 games in each of the past two seasons and have made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II national title game. UCSD finished as the runner-up in 2012 after winning the national championship for the first time in 2011. May is involved in all aspects of the coaching process, including recruiting, academics, development, and administrative duties. She also takes a particular focus on both working with the team on base running and spending practice time with the outfielders. May was the go-to coach for Triton baserunners in 2011, guiding the team to 85 steals on 111 attempts (.766), the third-best success rate in the CCAA. May returned to her alma mater as an assistant coach after working as an administrative and human resources assistant in El Segundo for several months in 2010. May also served as an operations coordinator for Velocity Sports Performance after graduating from UCSD in 2009 and had been conducting private softball lessons from 2009-10. An All-CCAA First Team honoree and NFCA Academic All-American, May batted .268 in 199 career games as a Triton, amassing 23 doubles, nine home runs, 82 runs, 82 RBI and 48 stolen bases. The Manhattan Beach native was a key member of UCSD's 2009 squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II West Regional in St. George, Utah, batting .251 with a pair of home runs, 31 runs driven in and a team-high 22 steals. She sits at third place in UCSD annals for career steals (48).
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Jessica Millsap
Nichole Willis
Allison May