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 the previous head softball coach left Southern Oregon University, it gave Mike Mayben the opportunity to step up to the plate.
This spring was his first at the helm for the Raiders, but due to the corona virus, the season was unfortunately cut short. Mike still has a season with his daughter Taelor, however, as she is a junior on the team.
The Maybens have been a family affair in the softball world for 14 years now. Mike’s wife Casey coached with him at North Medford High School until Mike took the assistant job at SOU, where Taelor was playing college ball. Their other daughter Mia has also continued her softball career, playing at Grand Canyon University.
It’s no surprise the Mayben girls fell in love with the game since they grew up with it.
“While Casey and I coached at the high school, Taelor and Mia would spend their evenings running around the facility, eating dinners in the coaches’ office, hitting and playing catch with each other, as well as players and parents of players at the fields,” said Mike. “They would help with field maintenance and be in the dugout when they were not out playing their own games.”
“I loved every second of growing up on the field,” added Taelor, who is majoring in elementary education. “Whether it was going straight to the field after school because my parents were coaching high school practice, playing catch with them when they were done, having family dinners every night in the team room, and finally being old enough to actually play competitively – it was all such a huge part of who we are as a family. We never let the sport get in the way of our time together and who we are to the core, but we certainly enjoy the sport more when we get to do it together.”
Both Taelor and Mia played for their parents at North Medford, with Taelor helping the the team win the Oregon 6A State Title her senior year. Mia transferred to Cascade Christian High following her freshman year.
“In 2017, our high school program was comprised of nine seniors that Casey and I had watched grow up playing and coached together for about eight years,” said Mike. “They were able to finish their senior year winning the state title together. It was after that season that we had to make some difficult decisions to stop coaching in order to watch our youngest daughter Mia play softball at Cascade Christian while our oldest daughter Taelor would be playing college softball close to home at Southern Oregon University.”
Little did the Maybens know that wasn’t the end of Mike and Taelor’s softball saga together.
“We stepped away believing it could be the last time we would coach softball,” said Mike. “We spent the majority of the 2017-18 season being parents/fans of the Cascade Christian Challengers and Southern Oregon University Raiders, traveling to both programs’ games as often as possible.”
In April of 2018, close friend of the Maybens Ernie Adams had to step down from his role as assistant coach at SOU. Head coach Jessica Pistole called Mike to see if he would consider filling in for Adams while he took care of his family. Mike had been looking into coaching at the collegiate level and has been a part of the Raiders ever since, giving him more time to coach his daughter.
“I always wanted to play in college but never thought I would get the opportunity to play for my dad at this level,” said Taelor. “When the opportunity came for him to come on board with our team, I was beyond thrilled. We both thought that season of our lives was over and we wouldn't get to be on the field together again. Now we get to and it’s at a higher level where we both feel challenged and tested, which is so fun for us.”
Last year the Maybens helped the Raiders win the NAIA National Championship and Mike has enjoyed being able to share some great experiences with his daughter.
“Getting to see Taelor be a great teammate, respected by her coaches and peers while being on the field as a coach is priceless,” said Mike. “Being on the field to win both an Oregon State High School title and then an NAIA National Championship is beyond words. We are grateful for these experiences and the opportunity to share them, together as a family.”
Taelor echoes the sentiment.
“I get to spend every second of what I love doing with my dad,” said Taelor. “He truly is one of my best friends. We click on and off the field and that friendship is something I will always treasure.”