Hope International University Women's Softball

Hope International University proudly announces Gabriela Sandoval as the new Head Softball Coach. Coach Gaby arrives at HIU after serving as the Assistant Pitching Coach at Vanguard University, where she played a pivotal role in the Lions’ success. During her tenure, she helped guide VU to two second-place finishes in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GASC), back-to-back GSAC Tournament Championships, and two NAIA National Tournament Opening Round appearances. Her ability to develop and elevate pitchers has been instrumental, and she now brings that wealth of knowledge and experience to Hope’s program. A standout athlete in her own right, Sandoval’s playing career is nothing short of remarkable. After graduating from Mater Dei High School, she thrived at Southern Oregon University (SOU), where she became one of the most decorated pitchers in program history. Her accolades include: Two-time NAIA National Champion NFCA National Pitcher of the Year (2019) Two-time NAIA & NFCA All-American Two Cascade Collegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year selections Three All-CCC First Team honors Gold Glove recipient Beyond the field, Coach Gaby has demonstrated her commitment to mentoring and developing young athletes through coaching roles with Skyhawks Sports Academy and through her professional experience as a physical therapy intern in Oregon. Sandoval steps into her new role at HIU ready to lead the Royals with passion, discipline, and championship-level experience. With her proven track record as both a player and coach, she is poised to build upon the strong foundation of Hope Softball and guide the program into its next era of excellence.

Kelly McCluskey was hired on as an Assistant Coach at HIU in 2021. Prior to joining HIU, she was the program advisor for Brea Olinda High School from 2010 to 2020. During this time, the program won numerous California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), regional, state, and national titles, including a Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) championship in 2020. The success of the program resulted in Kelly being awarded the Coach/Advisor of the year in 2014 as well as being a finalist for the Coach/Advisor of the year in 2103, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. She was also awarded the prestigious Granite Apple Award from the Brea Olinda Unified School District. More recently, Kelly was CIF southern section nominations for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) California State Coach of the Year in Spirit in 2020. Kelly's dedication and passion towards the advancement of competitive cheer also includes a seat on the CIF advisory panel for the last 4 years, to which she is currently a member. During her time as an advisor, she played an integral role in amending section 504M of the CIF Constitution and Bylaws to provide an exemption for students to compete in the National High School Cheerleading Championship (NHSCC) on a Sunday. Kelly's commitment to her students goes beyond their participation in cheer. In addition to her focus on athletic performance, she has worked to develop and strengthen her students' academic performances. This effort elevated her program's rate of students receiving scholarship offers to 70% of the graduating seniors. “The greatest joy is being a part of a team. A team of coaches and athletes that are committed to working together to reach a common goal. Winning is great but some of the most rewarding experiences happen in the process of getting there”.  Kelly is very passionate about urban farming and preventative care. When she is not in her garden she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Kori Johnson has been named the Head Stunt Coach and comes with a wealth of coaching experience, currently being the Program Advisor at Costa Mesa High School and Middle School since 2007 where she oversees 7 different teams.  Johnson's program is the only high school in the nation to receive the American School Spirit Award twice, 2009 and 2013 naming it the top program in the nation. Her teams have won 7 National titles at both USA and UCA, 17 State titles, numerous regional titles as well as being 2 time CIF champions and back-to-back league champions in STUNT. Academics are also at the forefront of Coach Johnson's programs and her team most recently won runner up for the highest GPA in 2019 for all cheer teams in the Southern Section.  Coach Johnson is also heavily involved in the cheer industry. She has sat on the CIF advisory panel for 4 years, written numerous articles in leading cheer publications and for the OC Register and the Daily Pilot she also has been a keynote speaker at cheer coaches conferences, both for Varsity Brands and Concordia University. She also has served on numerous non-profit boards in the past including Costa Mesa United (an advocate for youth sports in the community), Pop Warner and Susan G. Koman. Coach Johnson is bringing a wealth of experience in the Sport of STUNT to HIU. She has been with the sport since its inception in 2011 as a collegiate official. She also helped bring the sport to the high school level in 2013 and was the first high school team to participate and has helped its growth in Orange County.  Coach Johnson has won numerous awards for her coaching and leadership including being a finalist over 12 times for Coach/Advisor of the year and winning the titles 5 times. She also has won community leader of the year with Leadership Tomorrow and the Paul Salata Hero behind the hashtags award, an NFL award given to community leaders that make a difference.  Coach Johnson, "I'm very excited to develop a STUNT program at Hope International University. I'm looking forward to the opportunity it can bring for female athletes wanting to continue competing at the collegiate level and to grow the sport of STUNT."  Coach Johnson believes in being a servant leader and enjoys philanthropic activities and giving back to her community. She lives in Costa Mesa with her 2 children and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends.