Rachel Quintero was named as the eighth head coach of the UCCS softball team in August 2026 and is entering her first season with the program in 2026-27.
Quintero joins the Mountain Lion family after spending the past four seasons at the NAIA level as the head softball coach at Benedictine University Mesa in Mesa, Ariz. During her time at the helm of the Redhawks' softball program, Quintero compiled a 65-105 overall record, including a 23-23 mark during the 2026 campaign. In addition to her work on the diamond, Quintero oversaw all aspects of the softball program, including recruiting, team travel, budgeting, fundraising, and the academic development of her student-athletes.
Prior to taking over the head job at Benedictine, Quintero gained extensive coaching experience at the NCAA Division I and II levels, including stops at California State University East Bay (2014-15, 2021-23), Academy of Art University (2008-12), and University of California Davis (2004-08). Most notably, Quintero served as the first head coach in the history of Academy of Art softball, building the Urban Knights' NCAA Division II program from the ground up and leading the team to back-to-back 29-win seasons in 2010 and 2011.
Before starting her coaching career at UC Davis, Quintero put together a decorated collegiate playing career at West Valley College and Santa Clara University. Quintero spent one season at West Valley and collected All-America, All-State, and All-Conference accolades as a catcher before transferring to Santa Clara for the 2002 season. In three years with the Broncos, she helped the program record a pair of 30-win seasons and earned All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference honors during her senior season. Following the conclusion of her collegiate career, Quintero was selected to the Israeli National Softball Team and assisted with the country's Junior National Team.
