James H. Williams | Managing Editor
June 20, 2014
UC Riverside Head Softball Coach Linda Garza announced the hiring of Jose Ortega as the team’s new assistant coach on June 16.
Ortega was a member of the coaching staff for the Riverside City College Softball program as an associate head coach under Michelle Daddona since 2006.
During his time at RCC, Ortega was responsible for developing philosophies as the Tigers hitting coach and putting together offensive strategies.
He will have similar recruiting duties with the UCR Highlanders using the experience he gained during his time as a member of the RCC staff.
Ortega, a Riverside native, played for the Tigers’s baseball team before transferring to the University of San Diego during his collegiate career. He was drafted as a player by the Cleveland Indians in 2004. He had his first coaching job with the Indians organization in 2006 as an infield coach.
“I’m very proud to be joining the UCR Softball coaching staff and family,” Ortega said. “I can’t wait to get started.”
Ortega will reunite with a familiar face in Chelsea Ponce at UCR. Ponce was a pitcher for the Tigers during the 2011 and 2013 softball seasons with Ortega.
