Coaching Crossover Ep 9: Kelly Inouye-Perez and Dean Kennedy

In Episode 9 of Coaching Crossover, we head to Southern California for an all-UCLA episode featuring women's softball head coach Kelly Inouye-Perez and football offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy. Kelly Inouye-Perez is a legend and ambassador for the game of women's softball. She is the only person to win an NCAA Softball Championship as both a player and a coach. As a catcher at UCLA, she won three national championships. Since 2007, Inouye-Perez has guided the Bruins to five appearances in the Women's College World Series, including two championships in 2010 and 2019. UCLA has reached the Division I Softball Tournament every year during her tenure. This season, she became the all-time winningest coach in the history of the program. Beyond wins and titles, Inouye-Perez is widely admired for her commitment to mentorship, academic success, and empowering student-athletes both on and off the field. Dean Kennedy is in his first season with the UCLA football program. He joined alongside head coach Bob Chesney and was hired as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this past offseason. Kennedy and Chesney have worked together at several stops, including James Madison, where Kennedy has served as offensive coordinator since 2023. Last season, his offense led the Dukes to their first appearance in the College Football Playoff and a perfect 8–0 conference record, just the 10th such season in Sun Belt history. His coaching approach emphasizes fundamentals, preparation, and accountability, helping student-athletes maximize their performance on the field while maintaining strong standards off it. Listen as we discuss the remarkable history of sport at UCLA, why effective communication is key to coaching and player development, and how to build trust between coaches and players alike.