SAN DIEGO – San Diego State head softball coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz has announced the hiring of Caitlin "Curly" Grimes as an assistant coach. Grimes comes to SDSU after serving as an assistant coach at Cal State Fullerton for the past eight seasons.
"We are extremely excited to welcome Curly to San Diego State and our Aztec softball tribe," head coach Stacey Nuveman Deniz said. "She brings a wealth of experience and success to The Mesa, and is a fantastic compliment to the rest of our staff. She's an outstanding mentor and I know our student-athletes will benefit from her tutelage both on and off the field."
Grimes helped guide the Titans more than 275 wins over her eight seasons with CSUF, including a highwater mark of 45 victories during the 2016 campaign. Additionally, the Titans earned six NCAA regional appearances and six Big West Conference titles while Grimes was on staff.
"I am filled with pride and joy as I become a part of the Aztec family at San Diego State University," Grimes said. "I want to thank Coach Nuveman Deniz, for granting me this opportunity to contribute to the ongoing success and growth of the Aztec softball program. I cannot wait to get started working with this team and build on the championship culture. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Cal State Fullerton and Coach Ford for the invaluable experiences and opportunities over the past eight years. These experiences have played a pivotal role in shaping me as a mentor and coach, positioning me where I am today. The memories and relationships built, will forever hold a special place in my heart. It is truly an honor to join a program with such outstanding alumni, staff, and players. Together, we strive for excellence and will continue to create a bright future for Aztec athletics."
Grimes helped lead the Titans back to the postseason for the sixth time in eight years in 2023. Fullerton went 34-21 overall, and 20-7 in Big West play, while 10 Titans earned Big West accolades including Alexa Neil who earned defensive player of the year. Three Titans hit at least .300 in 2023, led by Megan Delgadillo who hit .338.
Under her guidance the 2022 Titans reclaimed the Big West title and went to the Tempe Regional. The squad went 37-22 overall and 20-7 in Big West play. The Titans garnered nine Big West accolades including Megan Delgadillo being named the field player of the year. Delgadillo and Hannah Becerra were both named to the NFCA All-West Region Second Team and Jessi Alcala was named to the third team. Delgadillo had 80 hits for the season, becoming the first Titan since 2015 to have 80 or more hits. Offensively, the Titans batted .304 for the season and were 29th in the nation in batting average. The 2022 squad recorded the third best batting average in school history, they were third in runs per game (5.186), fourth in runs batted in (268), fourth in hit by pitches (45), second in stolen bases (93).
After the 2020 season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 went 38-15 overall and 21-3 in Big West play. Individually, the Titans were quite successful as the team collected 16 yearly Big West accolades, including Kelsie Whitmore as player of the year, Hannah Becerra as freshman field player of the year and Julia Valenzuela as defensive player of the year. That trio plus KK Humphreys earned NFCA All-West Region honors and Becerra also went on to be named an NFCA Third Team All-American. Offensively, the Titans were ninth nationally and first in the Big West in batting average at .328 in 2021. Under Grimes' tutelage Whitmore had one of the best offensive seasons in school history. She reached base safely in 29 straight games and had an 18-game hitting streak, tied for the second-longest streak in program history. She finished the season with a slash line of .395/.507/.824 overall and an outstanding line of .492/.612/1.062 in league play including 18 walks.
The 2019 season proved to be a very powerful season for Grimes' hitters posting the fifth highest slugging percentage in program history with a .445 mark. The team also belted 48 homers which is tied for fifth most in a single season. The Titans had three players finish with a .300 batting average or higher led by the Big West Player of the Year, Ari Williams. The senior center fielder led the team in just about every offensive category including a .380 average, .451 on-base percentage, and a .620 slugging percentage. Alexa Neil (.345) and Daisy Munoz (.316) were also key pieces in the Fullerton offense as Neil finished just shy of the freshman program records for runs (44; three shy) and hits (59; five shy) while Munoz tied the freshman program record with 10 home runs.
Grimes started her coaching career at North Texas working with the bullpen as well as the hitters from 2012-2013. She then left her alma mater and went on to be the assistant strength and conditioning coach and director of operations for the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana Lafayette where she won the Sun Belt Conference and made it all the way to the Super Regionals before falling to Auburn. She then joined Cal State Fullerton in the summer of 2015 and spent the next eight seasons with the Titans.
As a player, Grimes saw a lot of success. In 2012, the North Texas alum started all 55 games at catcher for the Mean Green. She finished third on the team with a .317 bating average and second with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. She was named to the All-Tournament Team for the Fairfield Inn and Suites Classic as well as the Sun Belt Conference Co-Player of the Week. She graduated from North Texas ranking fifth all-time in career RBI, sixth in career home runs, tenth in total bases, and sixth on the single-season home run list. She was named to the Dean's List and Sun Belt Academic Honor Roll as well.
Born in Arcadia, California Caitlin is the daughter of John and Sylvia Grimes. She has one brother Sean and one sister Mackenzie.