ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In episode 9 of Coaching Crossover we head to Southern California for an all-UCLA episode, featuring women's softball coach Kelly Inouye-Perez and football offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy.
Kelly Inouye-Perez is a legend and ambassador to the game of women's softball. She's the only person to ever win an NCAA Softball Championship as a player and as a coach. She won three National Championships as a catcher at UCLA. Since 2007, Inouye-Perez has coached the Bruins to five appearances in the Women's College World Series, including two championships – in 2010 and 2019. UCLA has been in the D1 Softball tournament every year in her tenure. Just this season, she became the all-time winningest coach in the history of the all-time winningest D1 softball program. Beyond wins and titles, Inouye-Perez is widely admired for her commitment to mentorship, academic success, and empowering student-athletes both on and off the field.
Dean Kennedy is in his first season with the UCLA football program. Coming over with Head Coach Bob Chesney, Kennedy was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this past football offseason. Kennedy and Chesney have worked together in several stops, including James Madison where he was the OC since 2023. Last season, Kennedy's offense led the Dukes to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff last season and a perfect 8-0 season in their conference, just the 10th in Sun Belt history. His coaching approach emphasizes fundamentals, preparation, and accountability, helping student-athletes maximize their performance on the field while maintaining strong standards off it.
Listen as we discuss the truly amazing history of sport at UCLA, how effective communication is key to coaching and player development and developing trust between coaches and players alike.
