California Aces

Head Coach: Willie Madrid

Willie has been coaching fastpitch softball for over 10 years. Currently assistant coach at West Valley College, and while coaching high schools in his career; namely, Los Altos, Cupertino, Archbishop Mitty and Del Mar, he has managed to simultaneously coach his travel teams in ASA softball competition.

 He started his coaching career with the sport he loved, played, and knew best “Football”, at Silver Creek HS in the late 70’s.  He then moved on to coach football at Overfelt HS in 1982, and after 8 successful seasons there and 6 more seasons at several other Bay Area high schools, he, like every other father-daughter coach, added fastpitch to his already busy coaching schedule. Both daughters took an interest in softball, and so did he, not only learning about the sport, but also learning from his daughters the difference in "gender approach" coaching.  Willie not only loved the sport of softball but also loved coaching the different challenges that females bring to the competitive sport.  Both of his daughters, now over 24 years old, played Fastpitch softball in HS and travel ball.

 So why does he still coach? “I’ve been coaching for a long time, I still enjoy the competition and the preparation for a tournament, the fire is still burning, and I’m still learning about life thru the players”.

 He expects the best from his players. And over his many years of coaching, he’s gotten it. According to his coaching philosophy is built on fitness and mental characteristics. "Our players need to be in great condition. Our style of play is intense, attacking softball”.

 In our system, every player has the chance to play up and excel."  He looks to provide a future, both academically and athletically, to his athletes and students.

 He considers a quality education vital to the success of every athlete. He has had remarkable success at each level of coaching. However, he considers his greatest accomplishments, not to be the many wins, but the many players that he has helped to develop into quality football / softball athletes as well as responsible human beings.

We Believe Sports Help Develop Young Athletes In Areas Of Knowledge, Skills, And Emotional Patterns. Athletics Should Promote the Development of Such Characteristics As; Self-Control, Loyalty, Hard Work, Leadership, Teamwork, and Friendship.