Cal Sports Report

Chelsea Spencer Resigns as Cal's Softball Head Coach

Spencer signed a contract extension in February. Several of Cal's 2025 softball stars have transferred to other schools

Jake Curtis

Chelsea Spencer
Chelsea Spencer / Photo by Rob Edwards, KLC Fotos
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Four months after signing a contract extension, Chelsea Spencer is stepping down as Cal’s softball head coach.

Cal made the announcement of Spencer’s departure on Monday after she had served as head coach at Cal for five seasons. No reason for Spencer’s departure was mentioned in the announcement, nor was there any indication of the future plans of the 42-year-old Spencer, who played college softball at Cal.

However, Spencer said in a Twitter message that she made the decision "to prioritize my mental health and my family."

Assistant coach Jen Deering will serve as interim head coach until a permanent replacement is hired.

Spencer's resignation comes after several of Cal's top players from its 2025 team transferred to other schools.

First-team all-ACC catcher Lagi Quiroga transferred to Texas Tech; second-team all-ACC infielder Tianna Bell transferred to Arkansas; 2024 second-team all-Pac-12 infielder Elon Butler transferred to Oregon; utility player Kaylee Pond transferred to Arizona State; infielder/outfielder Holly Medina transferred to Georgia Tech, and freshman pitcher Miranda De Nava transferred to California Baptist.

In February, Spencer signed a three-year contract extension with Cal that would run through the 2028 season, and the Bears had a successful season in 2025.

This past season, the Golden Bears finished with a 37-21 record, including 11-13 in the ACC. The Bears qualified for the NCAA tournament for the third year in a row. The Bears lost to host Oklahoma in the finals of the NCAA Regionals.

Spencer compiled a record of 153-108-2 as Cal's head coach.

Spencer played softball at Cal as a student and helped Cal reach the Women's College World Series all four of her college years, including an NCAA championship in 2002

"We thank Chelsea for all of her contributions to Cal and wish her the best of luck for the future," Cal athletic director Jim Knowlton said in statement provided by Cal.

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Jake Curtis
JAKE CURTIS

Jake Curtis worked in the San Francisco Chronicle sports department for 27 years, covering virtually every sport, including numerous Final Fours, several college football national championship games, an NBA Finals, world championship boxing matches and a World Cup. He was a Cal beat writer for many of those years, and won awards for his feature stories.

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