University of the Pacific

Keilani Ricketts Tumanuvao was announced as Pacific's pitching coach in July 2024.

"I'm excited to join the University of the Pacific and this softball program. I have always admired from afar the success Coach Brian Kolze had with this program and it's amazing to see Coach Sam Duran-Kukuk's passion to build off what he has accomplished. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be back on the West Coast near family and also for joining the Tiger family," Ricketts Tumanuvao shared.
 
Ricketts Tumanuvao pursued coaching after enjoying an illustrious career as a collegiate and professional athlete. At Oklahoma (2009-2013), she garnered USA Softball National Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons after guiding the Sooners to a runner-up finish in 2012 and a national championship in 2013. Ricketts Tumanuvao is one of three players in the history of collegiate softball to garner the USA Softball POTY distinction more than once and was the Sooners first ever four-time All-American.
 
After graduating with her bachelor's, she was drafted No. 4 overall to the USSSA Pride where she played professionally for six years. During that time, Ricketts Tumanuvao also competed for Japan in a four year stint with Toyota Industries. In 2018, she led the USA Softball Women's National Team to a gold medal at the WBSC Women's Softball World Championship, while also leading the Pride to the Cowles Cup that same year.
 
Ricketts Tumanuvao got her start in the coaching realm as a volunteer assistant at Mississippi State in 2015, where she aided pitching and hitting efforts for the Bulldogs along with various administrative duties. She returned to her alma mater in the fall of 2018, where she assisted the Sooners pitching and hitting efforts as a volunteer coach. 
 
The following year in 2019, Ricketts Tumanuvao launched her own softball instruction practice in the greater Norman, Oklahoma area, where she has spent her time since drafting and running individual and group softball sessions, including clinics and camps.
 
"Adding Keilani to our staff has to be one of the most exciting things we've done so far," head coach Sam Duran-Kukuk shared, "Our pitching staff will be learning from one of the best softball pitchers in the country. Keilani is not only one of the most well-respected players in our sport, but she is an incredible coach with so much knowledge to give. Keilani embodies what we are trying to do here at Pacific, and I know that having her on this staff will elevate our program to a championship level."