Pima Community College gets new baseball, softball coaches

Pima Community College head softball coach Armando Quiroz stepped down and Rebekah Quiroz was... — Pima Community College head softball coach Armando Quiroz stepped down and Rebekah Quiroz was named head coach. (Source: Pima Community College)

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) - Pima Community College has new head coaches for its baseball and softball programs.

Rich Alday stepped down as the Aztecs' baseball coach and Ken Jacome, one of Alday's former assistant at the University of New Mexico was chosen to be his successor.

Armando Quiroz stepped down as the Aztecs' softball coach and Rebekah Quiroz was picked to replace him.

Armando Quiroz was the longest running head coach in program history. Under him, the Aztecs went 501-197-2 in 11 seasons.

The Aztecs softball team placed third in the NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2013 and fourth place in 2012. The Aztecs claimed two NJCAA Region I titles and made the region tournament in 10 out of the 11 years.

Quiroz was inducted into the Pima County Sports Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Flowing Wells High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

"My thoughts go to all the great players that have come through our program and to all the great assistants I have been blessed with," Quiroz said. "To be able to coach and coach with my daughter Rebekah is a dream experience. Thank you to my loving wife Elsa, who is always supportive and understanding. Thank you to all the special people that God has put in my life. I am truly blessed. GO PIMA AZTECS."

Rebekah Quiroz has been an assistant coach for the past 13 seasons under Armando Quiroz and Stacey Iveson. She was on the 2006 NJCAA Division I National Championship team where the staff was named National Coaching Staff of the Year. She has 606 wins in her career as an Assistant Coach at Pima.

Rebekah Quiroz played at Flowing Wells High School and won two state championships in 1999 and 2000. She was also named Player of the Year by the local newspapers. She was selected to the Flowing Wells Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

She joined the Pima softball team during the 2001-02 season. She was selected NJCAA first team All-American, first team All-ACCAC conference and first team All-Region after she led the nation with a .500 batting average. She transferred to the University of Arizona and was a part of the 2002 National Runner-up and Co-PAC 10 champions team. She went on to play for the Arizona Heat in the National Fastpitch League from 2005-2008.

"I am most humbled and honored to accept the position of head softball coach for Pima Community College," she said. "I will do my absolute best to ensure continuity of this nationally recognized and respected program that my father (and prior coaches) have created. Thank you for the opportunity to serve Pima College and the Tucson community that I love.

"I am everything I am because of my father; I am honored, and proudly carry his name through this next journey of my coaching career."

Alday closes out his Pima career with a record of 517-251 in 17 seasons. He returned to the school this season after coaching the Aztecs from 1974-1989.

"I wanted to come back and lead the Aztecs baseball program for one more season," Alday said. "It's time for me to stay home with my wife (Norma). I have been out on the field for 40 years and it's time to change my schedule. It was a special moment to get my 500th win here but it is time for someone else to lead this program and I'm happy it's Ken Jacome."

Jacome is no stranger to Tucson. He graduated from Rincon High School and coached the Pueblo High School baseball team from 1995-1996 before joining Jerry Stitt's staff as a volunteer assistant at the University of Arizona from 1997-1998.

Jacome started the baseball program at El Paso Community College and led the Tejanos to three Western Junior College Athletic Conference titles (2001, 2002, 2004). He accumulated a record of 207-122-2 in six seasons (1999-2004).

"I have been away from Tucson for 20 years and I wanted the opportunity to come home," he said. "This is going to work out great and I'm looking forward to bringing Pima back to being a championship team. I've been able to establish my own identity learning from some great coaches along the way. This gives me a chance to instill things I have learned over 20 years and give back to a great program."