Martha Carmona
Co-Head Coach, 2nd year

Lady Dons’ alumna Martha Carmona returns for her second season as co-head coach of the Santa Ana College softball program and her sixth season overall.

Prior to being named head coach, Carmona spent four years as an assistant coach under previous head coach Kim Nutter.

Carmona came to Santa Ana College (SAC) with over a decade of softball experience as a player and coach.

A 1996 graduate of Anaheim High School, Carmona played four softball seasons (1993-96) for the Colonials, twice earning team MVP honors, as well as being a three-time All-Orange League selection.

She then played the 1997 and 1998 seasons at SAC for head coach Nutter, before concluding her collegiate playing
career at New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) in 2000 and 2001.

Carmona began her coaching career at Anaheim H.S. in 1999 as the freshman/sophomore head coach. She later was an assistant coach at NMHU in 2000.

Carmona received her master's degree in physical education administration from Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2005. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human performances and sport from NMHU in 2002 with a minor in coaching. She also has an associate’s degree in liberal arts from SAC.

Kristin Kirkwood
Co-Head Coach, 2nd year

Kristin Kirkwood returns to the Santa Ana College softball coaching staff for her second season, first as co-head coach.

Kirkwood has played fastpitch softball for 23 years during which time she started on national championship teams as well as being a four-year varsity player.

She has been coaching in a local softball league for the past three years as the manager and head coach of two travel ball teams.

Kirkwood also coached the junior varsity softball team at Esperanza High School in 2006, guiding the Aztecs to a 17-3 record while winning the league championship with a 9-1 league record.

Kirkwood is the owner of Kirkwood Co., Inc. that specializes in private individual training of youth softball.