December 30, 2022

Tisha Duran Tabbed as Interim Softball Coach at Ventura

After eight years as an assistant coach in the Pirate Softball dugout, VC Hall of Famer Tisha Duran has been named VC's interim head coach for the 2023 season. In Duran's wight seasons with the program, Ventura has posted an overall record of 158-85 (.646 winning pct.) while achieving a 78-22 (.780) mark in Western State Conference play. VC shared the conference title in 2017 and finished as runner-up in each of Duran's other six full seasons on the bench, playing in the post-season in all six years, as well. | ORIGINAL

The VC alumna was first team All-State in her one season with the Pirates, and also earned the Western State Conference North Division MVP Award. She was inducted into the Ventura College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. During her tme on the Pirates' coaching staff, the team has posted a record of 144-92, for a .610 winning percentage, and a conference mark of 77-26 (.748). VC claimed a share of the 2017 Western State Conference North Division championship.

Coach Duran is a product of Buena High School where she was a two-time All-Ventura County selection, and was named the Channel League MVP during her junior year.

Duran traveled the short distance down Telegraph Road to play shortstop on the 2004 Pirate team. She hit .509 with 53 RBI, nine triples, and four home runs, leading VC to a 20-2 conference mark and the WSC North Division title. Overall the Pirates were 31-7 and earned the No. 4-seed in the CCCAA SoCal Regional Playoffs. Duran was named the Ventura College Outstanding Female Athlete and won County honors, as well.

Duran transferred to UC Santa Barbara, earning back-to-back first team All-Big West honors at third base. Her senior year she also earned first team All-Pacific Region. Duran led the Gauchos in RBI both years, setting a single-season record of 55 in 2008. She also set a school record for home runs (13) and led the team with a .360 batting average. Her career mark of .343 ranks second in program history.

Following her senior year in Santa Barbara, Duran was selected to play on an all-star team that played against the United States Olympic Team in preparation for the Beijing Summer Olympics. She then played professionally in Italy for one season.

Duran returned to VC to help out on coach Susan Johnson's coaching staff before being named the head girls softball coach at Buena High School in 2012. She held that position for four years before returning to VC as an assistant.