TIM SOEFJE

Tim Soefje enters his 5th season as the Head Coach and Program Director of the American Freedom Fastpitch Softball Club. He is the head coach of the American Freedom Gold and also in charge of all aspects of the AF program, which now includes teams at 18u Gold (2), 16u (2), 14u, and 12u. 

Since the American Freedom’s inception in January 2006, Soefje has successfully recruited some of the top players from throughout North Texas, Central Texas, San Antonio, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Coach Soefje is one of only a handful of Texas ASA coaches to have led teams to three consecutive ASA National Championships (2006, 2007 & 2008). The American Freedom took 5th at the 2008 Colorado Fireworks and finished 3rd at the 2008 Texas ASA State Tournament. The team finished 5th at Texas ASA State Tournament (2007 and 2006).

Prior to moving to the Dallas area, Soefje served as an assistant coach on the San Antonio Gator Girls, which won the 2005 NSA 12u World Series Runners up. He also founded the San Antonio FireStix, which was one of the first ASA select teams in north San Antonio. Its players went on to win the Texas Little League State Championship. Soefje was a 1st-team All District catcher at Kenedy High School, in Kenedy, Texas, finishing 3rd at the 1982 Texas 3A State Tournament. He also was a nationally-ranked javelin thrower in high school, advancing to the finals of the 1981 AAU Junior Olympic National Track & Field Championships. He competed briefly in track and field at the University of Texas – Austin before transferring to Texas A&M – Kingsville, where he placed 3rd at the 1985 Lone Star Conference Track & Field Championships.

In real life, Soefje is a trial lawyer, specializing in the defense of lawyers, accountants, engineers, and other professionals, as well as representing plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial litigation. He is the Senior Associate at Campbell & Chadwick, P.C. Prior to relocating to Dallas, Soefje spent 11 years practicing law in San Antonio, including the majority of that time with Thornton, Biechlin, Segrato, Reynolds, & Guerra, L.C. He is a graduate of South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas, and also attended Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas State University.

He lives in Frisco, Texas, and is married to Karen Soefje. They have three children. His oldest son Nicholas verballed to Mississippi State University track team to throw javelin next year.

DAVID HERNANDEZ

David Hernandez enters his 5th season as an assistant coach of the American Freedom. Hernandez assists with all aspects of the program, including college recruiting.

One of the original coaches with the American Freedom, Hernandez has made possible a pipeline of a top South Texas players since the program’s inception. Hernandez also has brought a wealth of professional leadership, management, and marketing savvy to the program. Prior to joining the American Freedom, Hernandez was the founder and coach of the TexaStars, a successful ASA select softball team based in San Antonio.

In real life, Hernandez is the Vice President, Field Sales Director – West, Advanced Sterilization Equipment for Johnson & Johnson, Inc. with responsibility over J&J’s sales reps for the western half of the United States. Hernandez is a graduate of West Point Military Academy and is a retired Captain in the Army.

He lives in San Antonio, Texas, and is married to Carolyn Hernandez. They have four children.

CRUZ TIJERINA

Cruz Tijerina enters his 3rd season as an assistant coach with the American Freedom. Mr. Tijerina assists with coaching infielders, catchers, and hitting. He also assists with college recruiting efforts in South Texas and the Austin area. 

A San Antonio-area native, Tijerina is currently attending the University of Texas – San Antonio, majoring in kinesiology. He plans to pursue a college softball coaching career. Despite his relative youth, Tijerina possesses a tremendous reputation and established connections within the San Antonio softball community, especially San Antonio’s ASA travel clubs and recreational leagues. Tijerina has coached the Southwest High School fall season softball team for the last two season. Tijerina formerly served on the coaching staff on the San Antonio Gator Girls, which won the United States Fastpitch Association (USFA) 2006 12u National Championship. At only 18-years-old, Tijerina founded a junior select ASA team named the San Antonio Dream Team, which rapidly grew into one of the top teams in its age group in South Texas and San Antonio.

He lives in Atascosa, Texas.

KATIE CAMPBELL

Katie Campbell is starting her 4th year as an assistant coach with the American Freedom. Ms. Campbell assists with coaching pitchers, outfielders, slappers, and base running techniques. Ms. Campbell assists with college recruiting efforts in North Texas, Oklahoma, and junior colleges.

A Frisco, Texas native, Ms. Campbell recently completed her college eligibility as a scholarship pitcher/outfielder/power slapper at Div. II powerhouse Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. Francis Marion started the season ranked No. 5 in the nation after advancing to the 2008 Div. II Women’s College World Series. Campbell pitched her first two years at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas, advancing to the  2007 National Junior College Athletic Association  (NJCAA) National Championships. Campbell won a Texas Class 4A State Championship in 2002 at Frisco High School, where she earned 1st Team All-State honors. Campbell graduates from Francis Marion University in December 2009 and intends to pursue a master’s degree and teaching certification. She plans to coach college or high school softball.

She lives in Frisco.