Kiarra Crockett-Pope enters her third season as the pitching coach with the UC San Diego softball program in 2027. Since joining the Tritons’ staff, Crockett-Pope has helped guide UC San Diego to two Big West Championship appearances, 11 All-Big West selections, one NFCA All-Region honoree and three single-season program offensive records.
The 2026 season saw Crockett-Pope help lead the Tritons to another milestone year, as UC San Diego finished 23-28 overall and 12-15 in Big West play while advancing to the Big West Championship for the second time in program history. Five Tritons earned All-Big West recognition during the season, including one selection to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
In 2025, Crockett-Pope helped guide UC San Diego through its first year of Division I postseason eligibility. The Tritons finished 16-32 overall and 13-14 in Big West play, earning a berth in the Big West Championship for the first time in the program’s Division I era. Six Tritons earned All-Big West recognition, including two First Team honorees, one Second Team selection, two honorable mention recipients and one All-Freshman Team selection. UC San Diego also had four College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selections.
Crockett-Pope joined the Tritons after serving as an assistant coach at UC Riverside, where she helped guide the Highlanders to a 44-56 record with 10 student-athletes earning All-Big West honors. During her time with the Highlanders, the pitching staff posted a 2.85 ERA, highlighted by a staff ace who recorded 130 strikeouts across 146.2 innings.
Prior to UC Riverside, Crockett-Pope helped guide Loyola Marymount to a historic 2022 season, as the Lions posted a 37-17 record, captured their first West Coast Conference title in program history and advanced to the NCAA Regional at UCLA, where they earned a victory over Ole Miss.
A former standout player at CSUN, Crockett-Pope graduated in 2022 after a decorated career with the Matadors. She was named the 2019 Big West Co-Freshman Field Player of the Year, earned Big West All-Freshman Team honors and was selected to the All-Big West Second Team as a freshman. She finished the 2019 season ranked among the conference leaders with eight home runs while hitting .305 with four home runs and 10 RBIs in Big West play.
