LA VERNE, CA — University of La Verne Director of Athletics Dr. Jenna Panatier has announced Danielle Kaminaka as the new University of La Verne head softball coach. 

Kaminaka brings to La Verne 17 years of collegiate coaching experience. She joins the Leopards after 11 seasons at NCAA Division I Sacramento State as an assistant coach, the last two as the program's associate head coach.

"We are excited to bring Danielle into the Leo family and are looking forward to her getting started. La Verne softball has a proud winning tradition and we have no doubt that Danielle can continue that standard," said Panatier.

During her tenure at Sacramento State, the Hornets captured 2018 and 2023 Big Sky championships and combined for a 278-245-2 overall record and a 112-66 mark in the Big Sky. 

Kaminaka also helped the Hornets maintain a high academic standard. In 2024, 18 Hornets posted grade point averages above 3.0, and 11 earned GPAs higher than 3.5. The 2024 squad boasted a 3.27 GPA.

"I am excited to return to Southern California to lead the University of La Verne's softball program. I am honored to be a part of this program's long history of success in the SCIAC and beyond. I want to thank Dr. Panatier and all the wonderful people I have met at La Verne for the opportunity to work with them. I can't wait to work with the student-athletes and the department to create unforgettable experiences on the way to championships," said Kaminaka.

At Sacramento State, Kaminaka was heavily involved with coaching the hitters, working with the outfielders, overseeing the team's academics and youth camps, and assisting with recruiting.

The Hornets finished third place or better in the league standings nine times with Kaminaka on the staff. In 2024, Sacramento State finished in second place with a 28-20 overall record and a 7-4 mark in Big Sky competition. That season the Hornets compiled a .290 team batting average, the second-best mark in the Big Sky, and five Hornets finished the season with batting averages above .300.

In five of the last six seasons with Kaminaka on staff, the Hornets posted at least 27 wins. The 2023 squad finished 27-20 overall, 10-5 in the Big Sky, and claimed a share of the Big Sky regular season title.

In 2018 the Hornets claimed the Big Sky Conference regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. Sacramento State finished the season 31-20 overall and 14-7 in conference play, and won its first Big Sky title since the league began sponsoring softball in 2013. In addition, the NCAA Tournament appearance was the program's first since 2008, and the fourth since Sacramento State became an NCAA Division I member in 1990.

At least four Hornets hit .299 or better during 10 of Kaminaka's 11 seasons, including seven players in 2023. Sacramento State had a program-record three players named all-region in 2022.

"I am so grateful to all the people I've met at Sacramento State and Coach Lori Perez for the experiences that have prepared me to take on this exciting role. The future of Leo Softball is bright, and I look forward to working with everyone towards that future," added Kaminaka.

Kaminaka also had coaching stops at Colgate (2013) and Loyola Marymount (2009-12). At LMU, she served as an assistant coach from 2011-12 and a graduate assistant between 2009-10.

As an assistant at Loyola Marymount, she helped coach the team to a combined 110 wins over four seasons, including two years with at least 32 victories. The Lions went 45-35 in conference play over that span, including a 16-4 league mark in 2011.

Before Loyola Marymount, she coached one season at Southwestern Community College in 2008 where the team made a 12-game improvement in conference play to 14-2 after the team had gone 2-12 in 2007.

Kaminaka was a four-year starting third baseman at Loyola Marymount where she had a dominant career and left as one of the best players in Lions' history. She was a three-time First-Team All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference honoree. In 2004 she earned the PCSC Player of the Year honors and Second-Team NFCA All-Pacific Region recognition after she set the then-school record with 15 home runs and 49 RBIs. That season, she led the nation with a .888 slugging percentage.

As a senior in 2005, she won the PCSC Scholar-Athlete of the Year award and was a first-team academic all-district selection after leading the Lions to a 34-20 overall record, a 16-4 PCSC record, and LMU's first-ever NCAA Regional appearance.

During her time as a player, LMU combined for a 138-87 overall record and a 58-25 conference mark. A career .326 hitter, she left Loyola Marymount ranked among the top eight players in program history in 11 different categories - second in career home runs (47), doubles (43), walks (110), slugging percentage (.623), and on-base percentage (.434), as well as third in RBIs (149).

The Vista, CA native was inducted into the Loyola Marymount Hall of Fame in 2013 and had her number retired (#35) in 2015.

She received both her master's degree and bachelor's degree in English Literature at Loyola Marymount.

The La Verne softball program has won 10 SCIAC Regular Season Championships and three SCIAC Tournament Championships. The Leopards finished last season 13-24 overall and 7-14 in SCIAC play.