By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
Last weekend, Kelly Inouye-Perez surpassed Sue Enquist as the winningest softball coach in UCLA history — a milestone that cements her place among the legends of Westwood.
According to ESPN, Inouye-Perez, widely regarded as one of the most humble figures in college sports, quickly redirected praise to longtime assistant and best friend Lisa Fernandez. The two were teammates at UCLA and have worked side by side since Inouye-Perez became head coach in 2007.
A Legacy of Leadership
Before Inouye-Perez coached her first game, I sat with then-retired Bruins coach Sue Enquist at the Mohegan Sun Coaches Convention in Connecticut. I asked about her successor.
“I can tell you this, Earl,” Enquist said. “The program is in good hands. If you’re a Bruin fan, you don’t have anything to worry about.”
Two decades later, those words ring prophetic.
Inouye-Perez now holds a record of 888-225-1 (.797), surpassing Enquist’s 887-175-1 (.835). Sharron Backus, the inaugural coach in UCLA softball history, retired with an 854-173-3 (.831) record. They remain the only three softball coaches in school history — a testament to the program’s remarkable stability.
“When we talk about the Bruin family, it’s real, and that’s all I’m trying to do is sustain this tradition of excellence for all those that built this historic program,” Inouye-Perez said. “There is no other program that has sustained over six decades like UCLA softball, and Lisa and I are doing our best to be able to do that.”
Built in Westwood
In her 20th season as head coach, Inouye-Perez’s connection to UCLA spans nearly four decades. She arrived in Westwood in 1989 as a catcher and won three national championships as a player. After her playing career ended, she immediately joined Enquist’s staff as an assistant coach.
This season marks her 38th consecutive year with UCLA softball. She remains the only person in Division I history to win a national championship as both a player and head coach.
Under her leadership, the Bruins have reached the Women’s College World Series 11 times, most recently in 2025. From 2015 to 2022, UCLA made seven straight WCWS appearances. The Bruins have qualified for the NCAA Tournament in all 18 eligible seasons during her tenure and hold a 92-37 postseason record, including a 21-18 mark in Oklahoma City.
Inouye-Perez claimed her fifth Pac-10/12 regular-season title and her first Pac-12 Tournament championship in 2024 — UCLA’s final season in the conference. Her five regular-season titles rank third in conference history behind Arizona’s Mike Candrea (10) and Enquist (7).
More Than Wins
But numbers alone don’t define her impact.
Senior infielder Jordan Woolery, who leads the nation with 39 RBIs this season, has spent four years in Westwood alongside fellow seniors Megan Grant and pitcher Taylor Tinsley — the Bruins’ only seniors this year.
“We’ve been close since I got to UCLA, and our relationship has only gotten stronger these last four years,” Woolery said. “There’s been a lot of moments where I’ve had to rely on her, and she’s also had to rely on me, like a leadership role for the team … we have a really good dynamic.”
For Inouye-Perez, the mission extends beyond championships.
“Moments like this come because our focus is how they can become the best version of themselves and leave a stronger female than they were when they came into UCLA,” she said. “Instead of just focusing on ball, we’re focusing on developing strong women and understanding how to be present and take advantage of opportunities.”
That philosophy — rooted in mentorship, sisterhood and excellence — continues to shape a program that has long been a standard-bearer not only for college softball, but for women’s athletics nationwide.
And as history now reflects, the Bruins remain exactly where Enquist predicted they would be — in very good hands.