Linda Garza became the ninth head coach in Wright State softball history on August 24, 2009.

Garza comes to Wright State after serving as the top assistant at Purdue since 2005 and helped lead the Boilermakers to 30 or more wins in each campaign. Purdue advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2009, winning twice in regional play. Among the team accomplishments this past spring was five wins over ranked teams, a 12-8 Big Ten record and the program's first NCAA Tournament victory.

Garza's duties at Purdue included all facets of the program from recruiting and scheduling to coaching the outfielders and assisting the hitters and runners. During her time, Purdue set five new offensive records and led the Big Ten in stolen bases, double plays and sacrifice flies as she coached 10 All-Big Ten and six All-Mideast selections.

Prior to her position at Purdue, Garza was an assistant coach at the University of Tulsa and the University of Arkansas.

During her time with the Hurricanes, Garza worked as an outfield coach, co-director of camps and travel coordinator. Her tenure at Tulsa followed a two-year stint at the University of Arkansas, during which Garza worked with the Lady Razorback outfielders, emphasizing footwork, fielding and throwing. She was the team's base running coach, working with players on mechanics and decision-making. She also coordinated scheduling, travel, camps and community service activities for the team.

Garza got her start in coaching during her playing days at UNLV. In addition to being an instructor at the Rebels' camps, she was an assistant coach for the Clovis Rockets Gold and 18-and-under teams. Her duties with the Rockets included organizing team practices, as well as working with players on hitting, basic skills and game strategies. After finishing her playing career at UNLV, Garza worked for one season as a student assistant coach with the team.

During her playing career from 1998 to 2001, Garza was a four-year starter at second base, third base and in the outfield. She started the last 155 games of her career, earning All-Mountain West Conference honors at third base as a senior after leading the Rebels in triples, RBI and sacrifice hits. The four-time academic all-conference honoree boasted a .262 career batting average, while laying down 45 sacrifice hits in her career, just five short of the school record.

Garza ranks among the UNLV and Mountain West single season and career top 10 lists in several categories. She ended her career among the UNLV career top 10 in doubles, walks, hits and sacrifice hits. She also owns three spots among the Mountain West single-season records lists: eighth in assists (151 in 2000), ninth in fielding double plays (14 in 2000) and 10th in sacrifice bunts (13 in 2000).

Garza earned a bachelor's degree in health education from UNLV in May 2002 and a master's degree in kinesiology from Texas Woman's University in May 2009.