A Coyote Family Affair: The Mendiola Family
With COVID-19 putting live sporting events on hold, the Cascade Collegiate Conference wanted to take the time to highlight families within our #ThisIsTheCCC community. Many of our member institutions have administration, coaches and student-athletes family members competing together, making the CCC truly a family affair.
CORVALLIS, Ore. – When you mention “Coach Mendiola” at the College of Idaho, you need to be specific. There’s Coach Al Mendiola, the Coyotes’ head softball coach, and there’s Coach Liz Mendiola, the Coyotes’ head volleyball coach. Both are Coyote legends in their respective fields and have almost 800 wins between the two of them.
Al owns the most wins by a softball coach (374) in school history, while Liz not only holds the most wins by a volleyball coach (423), but the most wins by a woman’s coach in school history. Liz also has been named the Cascade Collegiate Conference Coach of the Year eight times, an honor Al has also earned, along with an NAIA Region I Coach of the Year honor.
With volleyball competing in the fall and softball in the spring, it allows the Mendiolas to support one another. The two Albertson College of Idaho grads also take time to support other Coyote programs.
“The best thing about working at the College is working along side my wife,” said Al. “One great thing is having identical schedules that we can work around to support each other’s programs. It is great to be able to watch Liz coach her team in the fall and she can watch softball in the spring. We spend the majority of our time together in the winter watching basketball since both programs are in their dead period.”
Al joined the College of Idaho baseball staff before taking over the helm of the softball team in 2005. Liz was named the head volleyball coach in 2001.
“Once I was done playing baseball in college, I wanted to continue being a part of a great program,” said Al. “I was given an opportunity to be an assistant baseball coach for the Coyotes under Tim Mooney and Shawn Humberger and in 2005, I was given the opportunity to become the head coach of the softball program. I am so grateful for [athletic directors] Marty Holly and Reagan Rossi to take a chance on me with minimal experience as a head collegiate coach. I knew the culture at the College of Idaho and I am blessed that they took a chance on me.”
It paid off for the Coyotes as Al has led C of I to eight postseason runs, including five NAIA National Championship appearances. Just last year, the Coyotes set a program record with 40 wins and were picked to take third in the CCC this year.
Al Mendiola and Aleah Mendiola
Al and Liz may have Coyote blood running through their veins and passed that on to at least one of their children. Aleah is a junior on the Yote softball team, while younger brother Micah is a freshman in high school – perhaps a future College of Idaho basketball and baseball player in the making.
Despite her dad’s success at C of I, Aleah wasn’t sure she wanted to play for him.
“My first thought about college softball was not a positive one,” said Aleah, a biology major who loves animals. “I felt like I would face a lot of negativity from teammates because of who my dad is. I thought about it long and hard, but eventually decided to play and I am so thankful for that decision. My dad is my favorite coach by far and I have experienced nothing but positivity being a ‘coach’s kid’ in college."
Being a coach’s kid can have its challenges, too. Not to mention two coaches for parents.
“Growing up with two coaches for parents put a lot of pressure on me,” said Aleah. “I was always expected to be the star athlete and was always expected to play. Because of this, I pushed myself really hard to meet other people's expectations. Often when people think of a coach's kid, they assume the kid only plays because their parent is the coach. That is not the case with my family – I have sat the bench multiple times. My family is all about winning over playing time, which is something I take to heart.”
That was evident this season, which was unfortunately cut short due to COVID-19. Aleah had just earned back a spot in the lineup and knocked a pair of home runs to lift the Coyotes to a series victory over Northwest University before the season was canceled.
While nothing is given to Aleah, her dad couldn’t be more proud of his daughter.
“The opportunity to coach Aleah at the College of Idaho is one the best experiences I have had since I started,” said Al. “I started coaching her when she was eight years old and now to have the opportunity to watch her play at the collegiate level is so rewarding. We have so much fun on road trips. We eat together (she likes to spend my money) and I have a blast having her around. I definitely have Dad moments during games because I am so proud of her and everything she has accomplished.”
Having both your parents on campus can definitely have its benefits, and not just spending Dad’s money.
Aleah Mendiola and Liz Mendiola
“I love being able to see my parents whenever I want,” said Aleah. “Whenever I need help with classes or just want to vent, they are blocks away from me in their offices. My mom has sat me down in her office and listened to a lot of troubles over the years. Also being able to have my parents at all of my games is nice – even though my dad treats me as a player on the field.”
Aleah was almost destined to be a Coyote. Mom Liz started as an assistant with the C of I volleyball team before Aleah was born while dad Al was on staff with the baseball team. Aleah was always around Coyotes.
“Aleah grew up in the gym and coaches and players took turns watching her while Liz and I coached,” said Al. “She would go from the baseball field to the gym or from the gym to the baseball field. No matter what, she was always around collegiate athletes.”
It led to Aleah developing a passion for sports, but falling in love with softball. That might have been hard on mom Liz considering how competitive the Mendiola family is.
“My parents often fight about which sport (softball or volleyball) is ‘harder,’ which I find amusing,” said Aleah. “We may be one of the most competitive families I know. Board games never end well because we hate losing more than we like winning.”
The Mendiola family might be competitive, but one thing is evident: both Al and Liz are extremely proud of their little Coyote.
“To see Aleah attending the college that gave Liz and I so many memories and opportunities is a blessing,” said Al. “We're proud alumni and we are proud of her.”