Alex Ibarra was named an assistant coach of the App State softball program on June 14, 2024. He enters his second season as the Mountaineers' pitching coach in 2026.
In his first season on the App State staff, the Mountaineer pitchers posted a 4.30 team ERA with 217 strikeouts to 140 walks. App State's 1.55 strikeout-to-walk ratio was the fifth-best mark in the Sun Belt Conference in 2025. Hitters batted .271 against App State pitchers in Ibarra's first season with the team. Additionally, App State posted three shutouts and 16 complete games in 2025.
Ibarra's work in developing the Mountaineer staff helped turn Sophie Moshos into one of the best pitchers in the league in 2025 as she finished in the top 15 in the Sun Belt in ERA, wins, starts, complete games, shutouts, innings, strikeouts and opponent batting average. Moshos was named second-team All-Sun Belt in her first season with the Mountaineers and was named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week on April 1, the Mountaineers' first conference pitcher of the week since 2013.
Additionally, Ibarra helped turn Ava Beamesderfer from a pitcher who threw just six innings in 2024 to one of App State's go-to arms in her second season. Beamesderfer was crucial to the Mountaineers' series win over Marshall at home as she threw four scoreless innings in relief on April 5. She also allowed just one earned run over 12.1 innings at Georgia State, which helped her to two wins in the series. Beamesderfer won four games in her sophomore season, good for the second-most on the team.
Following the season, Ibarra was chosen as an assistant coach for the Athletes Unlimited Softball League's (AUSL) Talons. The AUSL is the premier professional women's softball league in the United States.
Ibarra joins the Mountaineer softball program after spending the previous four years as a student manager at LSU, where he assisted with the day-to-day operations of the program. As a member of the Tigers' staff, he was a part of 155 wins, four NCAA Regional appearances and two Super Regional appearances in 2021 and 2024.
"We are thrilled to have Alex join the Mountaineer family," Jones said. "Alex has learned and been surrounded by the best in our game through his time with LSU and Team USA. His knowledge of the game at the highest level, his ability to connect and build genuine relationships with players and his hunger to grow makes him the perfect fit for our program."
"Alex will not only be instrumental in leading our pitching unit, but also a critical piece to our offensive development. He is more than ready to do a great job developing our young women and taking our program to the next level."
Acting as the primary batting practice thrower, Ibarra was instrumental in preparing the Tiger hitters prior to each game and helped lead them to a .290 team batting average. LSU also swatted 464 hits in 2024, which was the third-highest total in the SEC.
"I want to start off by saying thank you to Coach Whit and App State for allowing me to be a part of a special program," Ibarra said. "I can't wait to get to work with the incredible athletes and incredible staff. It is evident that App State is a special place with special people. Go Mountaineers!"
A native of Cedar Hill, Texas, Ibarra started his coaching career at UT Arlington, where he acted as a student manager for the Mavericks in 2019. In his lone season, Ibarra saw UTA win 36 games and take home a National Softball Invitational Championship.
Ibarra is also an accomplished player, being selected as a pitcher for the Under-23 USA Men's National Team and competing for the 2018 Junior Men's National Team in the WBSC Junior Men's World Championship that was held in Prince Albert, Canada. As part of the United States National Softball team, he has won two gold medals, including in 2023 at the Pan-American Games.
He was also a facilitator for Athletes Unlimited, a professional softball league, where he threw batting practice to some of the league's top players.
Ibarra earned his bachelor's degree in sports administration from LSU in 2023 and is working toward his master's degree in sports administration. He has three siblings: Naizllet, Benjamin and Mia.
