Coaching Staff

Nikki Bethurum

Softball - Head Coach (interim)

Email: Nikki Bethurum

While AWC may be Nikki Bethurum’s first foray as a head coach, she brings plenty of overall coaching experience to the position. A native of Downey, California in the Los Angeles area, Bethurum returns to the west coast after spending the last three years as an assistant softball coach at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. As the lead assistant and pitching coach for longtime UAM Head Softball Coach Alvy Early, Bethurum helped lead the Lady Cotton Blossoms to the Gulf South Conference West Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II South Regional Tournament in her first season on the staff. Last season, Bethurum helped lead the Blossoms to a 38-16 overall mark, a 2nd-place finish in the GSC’s West Division, and her pitching staff featured the conference’s Pitcher of the Year. Bethurum got right into coaching after a stellar collegiate playing career. Highly touted after winning 19 games as a senior pitcher for Downey High School and playing on four different traveling softball teams that all qualified for nationals, Bethurum was the first signee of the 2001 recruiting class for University of California-Riverside in the inland empire. After spending her freshman campaign as UCR’s top pitcher, Nikki transferred to the University of Louisiana-Monroe. Bethurum wasted little time making a big impression on her new teammates, becoming their top pitcher and hitter-despite fighting through shoulder problems throughout the season. Injuries forced Bethurum to move from the mound (and a starter at first base) to starting shortstop for her final two years as a player, but she still was the team’s leading hitter both years and was an All-Southland Conference Honorable Mention selection as a junior. Nikki was also a star in the classroom, making the honor roll at ULM all three years she was there, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from ULM and graduating with honors in 2006. Bethurum earned her Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Arkansas-Little Rock last May.

Softball - Assistant Coach

Email: Mark Garcia

He has been one of the true constants for AWC Softball program, and Mark Garcia returns for his 7th season in the cardinal & gold’s dugout. While coaching for AWC, Garcia has helped lead the Lady Matadors reach the Region I Playoffs 5 times-including last season-and the Region I Finals once. Garcia hasn’t just been a top-level coach in the sport of softball. As a player, he’s played primarily as a catcher in men’s fast-pitch softball at the National and World level, and later pitched for a team in Mexico. Mark’s coaching experience also includes a local travel team, and brings strong management skills to the program from his current position as a manager at Albertson's Super Market. Garcia is married to Laura and has three children, Mark Jr., Angie and Erin. 

Softball - Assistant

Email: Miguel Villarreal

While there have been many who have been a respected coach or player in one sport at AWC, Miguel Villarreal has the distinction of garnering respect in a pair of Matador Athletics’ programs. During his playing days, Villarreal was a catcher for John Stratton’s Matador Baseball team. Even then, though, Villarreal kept a close eye on his coaches to see how they did things, and even credits the inspiration to get into coaching from seeing Stratton’s coaching abilities firsthand. Villarreal began coaching summer travel softball teams, and a decade later, he’s still doing it, including coaching one squad to a national championship in Salem, Oregon, and leading another to the championship game the next year. Miguel spent three years as an assistant coach for Kofa High School’s softball program before coming to AWC. Miguel hasn’t left his playing days behind, though, since he still plays men’s fast-pitch softball with fellow AWC Assistant Coach Mark Garcia. Villarreal and his wife, Loretta, have a son, daughter, and one granddaughter.

Softball - Assistant Coach

Email:  Sarah Palmer

There’s not many things that Sarah Palmer hasn’t experienced in the Yuma-area softball scene during her lifetime, and she continues to bring that experience to AWC as she begins her 6th year as an assistant softball coach-and her 8th year overall as part of the program. The Yuma native grew up in front of the area’s softball fans, first coming to prominence before she was even 10 years old as a star with the South Yuma Bobby Sox team that went to the National Tournament nearly two decades ago. She also spent seven years playing ASA Softball as part of the Yuma Express. That early experience served her well when she arrived at Kofa High School and became a 4-year varsity star for the Lady Kings’ Softball team, helping lead them to a 3rd place finish in the Arizona State Tournament as a senior. Sarah continued her winning ways on the college level as part of the 2001 AWC Lady Matadors’ squad that finished 3rd in the nation at the NJCAA Tournament during her freshman year; then-after two years at AWC-as part of the 2004 NCAA Division II National Championship team at Angelo State University in 2004. Palmer was a winner in the classroom as well, making the Dean’s List for 5 semesters before earning her Bachelor’s Degree from Angelo State. She then moved back to Yuma and promptly helped lead AWC to the Region I Playoffs in her first year as an assistant. The former Sarah Woodman has been married for 3 years to her husband, Dwight Palmer.