meet our coaches

Founder & Owner

Ellie Garcia

Coach

Ellie Garcia brings elite-level softball experience, academic excellence, and a passion for mentorship to every athlete she coaches. As a former Division I pitcher and lifelong competitor, Ellie created Last Stop Athletics to help athletes grow both on and off the field.

Athletic Accomplishments

  • 473 Career Division I Innings Pitched

  • 322 Career Division I Strikeouts

  • 4-Year Collegiate Starter

  • 2025 WCC Second Team Selection

  • Professional Softball Player (2025) Cangrejeras de Puerto Rico

Academic Achievements

  • 2025 WCC All-Academic Team

  • 2025 CSC Academic All-District

  • NFCA Scholar Athlete All-American

  • Graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English with Honors (Magna Cum Laude)

  • Currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching and English Teaching Credential

Early Success & Leadership

  • 4x First Team All-League Selection (Softball & Volleyball)

  • Named Best Dual-Athlete in the Inland Empire

Ellie’s mission is to empower athletes through elite training, confidence-building, and leadership development. She believes success comes from discipline, resilience, and creating a positive environment where athletes can thrive both competitively and personally.

Jacob Gardner

Coach

Luis Garcia

Mr. Garcia is an educator, coach, and student-athlete mentor with over 25 years of experience helping young people succeed academically, athletically, and personally. A former Division I football player at Eastern Michigan University and Chaffey College Hall of Fame inductee, he combines his background in education and athletics to develop discipline, accountability, confidence, work ethic, leadership, and resilience in student-athletes. Mr. Garcia has served in a variety of educational roles, including teacher and education specialist, while also spending more than 20 years coaching varsity football and track, including leadership positions at Don Lugo High School and Montclair High School. His mission is to help students become stronger athletes, stronger students, and stronger individuals.

Jacob Gardner is a record-setting offensive lineman from Colorado State University known for his toughness, leadership, and consistency on and off the field. A 5× All-Mountain West selection and 3× team captain, Gardner set the conference record with 58 consecutive starts while establishing himself as one of the premier centers in college football. In 2024, he was graded as the #1 center in the nation and earned AP All-American honors, along with recognition on both the Rimington Trophy and Outland Trophy watchlists. He was also named Outland Trophy Player of the Week and recognized as a Jason Witten Man of the Year Semifinalist for his character, leadership, and impact beyond the game.

Athletic Honors & Leadership

  • 5× All-Mountain West Selection (Conference Record)

  • 58 Consecutive Starts (Conference Record)

  • AP All-American

  • 3× Team Captain

  • Graded the #1 Center in the Nation (2024)

  • Rimington Trophy Watchlist

  • Outland Trophy Watchlist

  • Outland Trophy Player of the Week

  • Jason Witten Man of the Year Semifinalist

Director of Student-Athlete Development