The Benedictine Mesa athletics department is pleased to announce the hiring of Rachel Quintero as the new head softball coach.
 
Quintero is coming to Benedictine after being part of the Cal State East Bay coaching staff as an assistant coach. Before East Bay, Rachel was hired as the first ever head coach for the softball program at Academy of Art University. It took her just two years to turn the Urban Knights into a winning program, posting back-to-back 29-win seasons in 2010 and 2011. The four years spent as a head coach she recruited and helped develop 61 PacWest Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll Selections, 13 post season honors and 3 NFCA All-Region Second Team honors. Quintero was named Coach of the Year from administration the school year 2010-2011.
 
Quintero had a standout playing career as a collegiate student. A native of Santa Clara, Calif., She began at West Valley Junior College, where she was an All-American, All-State, and All-Conference catcher. She helped West Valley finish fifth in the State in 2001 with a 39-4 record, posting a .474 batting average and leading all California JC players in home runs and RBI.
 
Rachel then transferred to Santa Clara University, where she competed for three years and compiled one of the most decorated careers in the program's history. In her first season, Quintero set the Broncos' single-season record for home runs. The following year, she helped Santa Clara notch a school-record 30 wins and a second-place finish in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC).
 
As a senior in 2004, Rachel led the PCSC with a .448 batting average in conference play and earned first team All-PCSC honors. She helped lead SCU to a first-place finish and a second consecutive 30-win season. Despite completing her eligibility 11 years ago, she still ranks in the top five in program history in home runs, slugging percentage, and walks.
 
In 2006, Rachel was selected to the Israeli National Softball team. She was also asked to assist with the Junior National Team and Israeli Youth Softball.
 
Quintero began her coaching career immediately following her stint at Santa Clara, joining the UC Davis Aggies as an assistant coach. She spent four seasons in Davis coaching the infielders and catchers, while assisting with recruiting, training, academics, and youth camps.
 
Since 2012, Quintero has also served as owner and lead instructor for Game Day Training in Vacaville, Calif. In addition to managing day-to-day business operations, she trained 30 individuals in various softball skills and hired staff to run skill-specific clinics all over northern California.
 
An alumnus of Wilcox High School, Rachel earned her bachelor's degree in studio art from Santa Clara in 2004 and her master's degree in Health, P.E. and Recreation from Saint Mary's College in 2007.