BERKELEY – California softball alumna and 2002 national champion Jen Deering is coming home to Berkeley as an assistant coach, as announced by her former teammate, head coach Chelsea Spencer.
 
"I am excited to announce a Cal Bear is the newest member of our softball staff and the leader of our pitchers," Spencer said. "There is no one prouder to wear California across her chest than Jen Deering. She is an exceptional human being, a great coach and a national champion. Santa Clara has gotten increasingly better over the years in the circle and I'm excited that Jen has taken the opportunity to come back home."
 
Deering comes to Cal with a wealth of knowledge and experience, having coached and recruited at every level of the sport. The former Golden Bear pitcher rejoins the program after spending the last six seasons just down the road at Santa Clara, which led the West Coast Conference (WCC) in win percentage last season. During her tenure the Broncos' pitching staff hauled in six All-WCC honors including the 2024 WCC Player of the Year, Hazyl Gray. Santa Clara has finished third in the WCC in team ERA three straight years and issued the fewest walks in 2024.
 
The Salinas native played at Cal from 2000-2003 and earned an impressive 43-5 career record with a 1.97 ERA. She made an immediate impact on the program going 9-0 in 12 starts with a 1.62 ERA as a freshman. As a junior she, alongside Spencer, helped the program to its sole national championship going 13-2 on the year with a 2.45 ERA and the second most strikeouts (94) and innings pitched on the team. The Bears finished as national runners up during her senior season.
 
 "I am absolutely ecstatic to wear blue and gold again," Deering said. "To be able to do the job I love at my alma mater; a place that's in my heart, is a dream come true."
 
Prior to her time at Santa Clara, Deering was the head varsity coach for Piedmont High School for seven years leading the program back-to-back league championships and producing the league MVP each year, both pitchers. She also served as the head coach for Chabot College and an assistant coach for both Boston University and the Oakland Vipers, an elite club team.
 
Deering graduated from Cal in 2003 with a bachelor's degree in American studies and a minor in LGBT studies and earned her M.A. in education from Boston in 2009.