Coaching Staff

Kelly Warren
Head Coach

Jamie Burton
Ass't. Coach

Tanya Ledesma
Ass't. Coach

Kelly Warren, Head Coach

A former two-time All-American at UCLA, Kelly Warren has achieved great success both on the field and in the dugout. As the Bruins' starting second baseman and leadoff hitter from 1993 to 1996, she was named to the all PAC-10 team four times, and earned all-Region honors three times. She led UCLA to the Women's Softball College World Series each of her four seasons, and graduated holding the school's career records for hits, run, and doubles. Warren was selected as a member of the PAC-10 all-decade team. She was no slouch in the classroom, either, earning Academic All-American honors while playing for the Bruins.

Following her playing career, Warren immediately entered coaching, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach at UCLA in the 1996-1997 season. That team would reach the championship game of the College World Series.

After earning her B.A. in Geography and a stint in the Women's Professional Softball League, Warren moved on to St. Norbert College in Green Bay, where she took on the role of Assistant Coach. There, she was responsible for both on-field instruction and the monitoring of academic progress, as well as the team's conditioning.

That would prepare Warren for a move back to the west coast, where she settled in as the Associate Head Softball Coach at San Diego State. From 2000 to 2006, Warren would play a key role in bringing the Aztec program to national prominence. Her wide variety of tasks included serving as the Recruiting Coordinator, Tournament Director, Aztec Softball Camp Director, infield coach and hitting instructor. She also supervised the team's academic progress and managed all travel, fundraising, alumni relations, and philanthropic events. In Warren's six years at SDSU, the program won its first three conference championships and earned its first three regional championship births, reaching the regional finals twice.

In August 2006, Warren began work as an instructor for SweetSpot Softball, a San Diego-based company that offers private lessons and clinics for youth leagues, high school, and travel ball teams. She earned "Four-Star Master Coach" standing from the National Fastpitch Coaches College in December 2006, and earned her M.S. in Kinesiology (emphasis in coaching) from Texas Women's University in 2007.

“We are absolutely thrilled that Kelly Warren is joining our athletics family,” said Cal State San Marcos Athletics Director Stephen Nichols. “Kelly is one of the most decorated players in the history of one of college softball’s most storied programs, and she has been equally impressive in her coaching career since then. And as an Academic All-American herself, she understands the true meaning of ‘student-athlete’ and the priority we afford academics at CSUSM. I can’t imagine a better person to continue on with the great things accomplished by Jennifer Milo this past year.”

Kelly Howard Warren brings a winning mentality and big-time experience to CSUSM. Her experience in helping build the San Diego State program should translate well to the task she'll have with the Cougars.

Jamie Burton, Assistant Coach

A four-year member of the San Diego State softball team, Jamie was one of the catchers and senior captain of the 2006 squad, which became most successful in Aztec history. During her time at SDSU, she led the squad to two appearances in the NCAA Regionals, making it to the Championship in 2006 where the team lost to UCLA.

Off the field, Jamie was a scholar-athlete and on the Dean’s List. She has volunteered as an assistant softball coach for a 14 & under travel ball team, and spent four years working at SDSU softball summer camps.

After graduating with a B.S. in Recreation Administration, she was brought in as an assistant by CSUSM Head Softball Coach Jennifer Milo, who herself served as an assistant coach at SDSU during Jamie’s playing days. Jamie’s responsibilities include all types of on-field instruction to hitters and in defense, as well as recruiting, camp coordination, game contracts, team handbooks, and monitoring student-athletes’ academic progress.  She is currently working towards her Master's Degree is Kinesiology (with an emphasis in coaching) from Texas Woman's University.

Given her strong academic background, Jamie shares Coach Milo’s desire for a program that is as strong academically as it is athletically. She has high expectations for the inaugural Cougar softball team, and looks forward to sharing her knowledge and passion of the game with its players.

Tanya Ledesma, Assistant Coach

After graduating from Carlsbad High School in 1998, Tanya moved on to the University of Southern Missisippi. In her freshman year, the Eagles were the 1999 Conference USA champions, won their Southern Regional, and advanced into the 1999 Women’s College Softball World Series.

Tanya played her sophomore year at Palomar Junior College, helping the Comets win the Pacific Coast Conference en route to winning the 2000 California Junior College State Championship.

Tanya transferred to Cal State Northridge her junior year. That year, the Matadors finished third in their Big West Conference and advanced into the West Coast Regionals. She graduated from Cal State Northridge in 2002 with her Bachelors Degree in Psychology.

After graduating, Tanya pursued her Masters degree in Educational Psychology and her coaching career at Los Angeles Valley College. She spent three years as the assistant coach at Valley College before relocating back down to San Diego in November of 2005, where she began working as an exercise specialist at an athletic training facility.

Tanya's specialties are pitching, strength & conditioning, and sports psychology.