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Tori Cervantes Hire Graphic

Cervantes Reunites With Montañez At CSUMB

Former Saint Mary’s infielder joins softball staff for 2027

July 09, 2026

By: Kevin Gilmore (@OtterKevin)
SEASIDE, Calif. — Tori Cervantes didn't have to look far to find her next chapter. Growing up in Watsonville and attending Notre Dame High School in Salinas, she always knew about Cal State Monterey Bay. But it wasn't until Emily Montañez took the head coaching position for the 2025 season that Cervantes seriously considered joining the Otters' staff.

With a degree in kinesiology/exercise science from Saint Mary's College and a lifelong passion for sports, Cervantes felt the pull toward coaching while still a student-athlete at SMC, where she played for former Otter Assistant Coach Sonja Garnett and Montañez. She worked ID camps, spent summers guiding youth players, and discovered a genuine love for helping young athletes develop their skills. The encouragement from mentors like Garnett and Montañez solidified her path, showing her what it meant to coach with both knowledge and heart.

"I am so excited to bring Tori on board," says Montañez. "She is going to bring a wealth of perspective and elevate our program. She won three conference championships at the NCAA Division I level, while playing all over the field.  She has a high level IQ that will immediately make an impact on our Otters."

When Cervantes reached out to Montañez during this past season to ask if an assistant spot was still possible for 2027, the answer was immediate. "She said yes, and I knew without hesitation this was where I was meant to be," Cervantes said.

Her years on the field taught her more than technique—they instilled patience, mental toughness, and a deep understanding of what it means to be coachable. That experience now shapes the way she approaches every day with the Otters. "Everything I have learned and gone through in my softball career has prepared me for this experience," she said.

Cervantes describes her coaching style as hands-on and rooted in respect. She believes in demonstrating drills before asking athletes to try them, emphasizing that learning often happens through action. "I learn best by doing the drill myself, so before telling whoever it is I am helping to do the drill, I first show them myself," Cervantes said.

She also prioritizes the mental side of the game, making sure athletes feel supported beyond the physical demands of softball. "I want to make sure that every athlete feels they are supported through anything they are going through outside of the physical game," she said. By helping players understand what they're feeling and working with them through their own process, Cervantes aims to create an environment where growth and joy are central to the program's culture.

As she prepares for her first year at CSUMB, Cervantes is focused on helping the team build on its recent successes. Her goal is to support student-athletes in reaching their full potential while strengthening the culture already in place within the program. "I hope to bring energy, positivity, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to help our team succeed," she said.

For Cervantes, coaching at CSUMB is more than a job—it's a homecoming and a chance to give back to the sport that shaped her. She's ready to learn, lead, and compete alongside the Otters, embracing every opportunity that comes her way.


 
GO OTTERS!





 
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