California native Desiree Ybarra enters her second season with the Morehead State Softball program as an assistant coach.

The former Cal State Fullerton standout comes to Morehead following stints at George Mason University, Bradley University and Rhodes College.

Serving as the team’s pitching coach, Ybarra helped Bradley to a nine-win improvement in her first season on The Hilltop in 2019. For just the second time in program history, the Braves had three pitchers earn at least six victories in the same season (first time since 1995). The BU pitching staff also posted the team’s lowest ERA since 2014 along with allowing the fewest walks since 2013. In addition, Bradley hurlers gave up just 27 home runs for the second lowest total in the MVC in 2019 and fewest surrendered by the Braves dating back to 2005.

During the abbreviated 2020 campaign, Bradley posted four shutouts in just 23 games to match the team’s highest total since 2014.  Sophomore Grace French was 5-0 with a 2.75 ERA in 11 outings, with her ERA marking the lowest by a Brave since 2012.

Ybarra spent the 2018 season as an assistant coach at Rhodes College, helping the Lynx to the first conference tournament championship appearance in program history in her lone season at the Memphis, Tenn., school.

Ybarra played professionally in both Australia and Italy in both 2016 and 2017 after graduating from Cal State Fullerton in 2016 with degrees in both human services and sociology.  She pitched for the Venezuelan National Team at both the 2018 Central American Caribbean Games and 2018 Women’s Softball World Championship in addition to the 2019 Pan Am Games.  Ybarra also represented Venezuela at the Americas Softball Qualifier in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada in August 2019.

The lefty pitcher was the 2016 Big West Conference Pitcher of the Year and NFCA All-West Region First Team pick as a senior. Ybarra was a two-time all-region performer during her tie with the Titans. She was 16-7 in the circle in her final collegiate season in 2016, ranking 38th in the nation with a 1.82 ERA.

She wrapped up her time at Cal State Fullerton with a school career record for pitching appearances (154) and also ranks among the top-10 in school history in victories, starts, saves, and innings pitched.