LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Fresh off finishing third at the NAIA World Series last week in Georgia, the coaching staff for College of Idaho softball was named the 2021 NFCA NAIA Region III Coaching Staff of the Year.
The Yotes wrapped up the season with a record of 44-19, marking the most wins in a season in program history.
Head coach
Al Mendiola, the winningest coach in C of I program history with 432 wins, has previously been named NAIA Region I Coach of the Year in 2007. He also led the way for the NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2014.
"First of all, I am honored," Mendiola said. "I know there are a lot of coaching staffs out there that deserve this award, and I think we are a pretty unique coaching staff. The one thing that I think I can say that is great about our group is the trust that we have in each other."
Pitching coach
Justine Callen and assistant coach
Bobby Wright join Mendiola in the honor.
"Those two are so helpful in the success of this program," Mendiola said. "They give me a lot more time to focus on the team dynamic, knowing that they are going to do whatever it takes to get our players better. We just work really well together and communicate really well, but most importantly - we trust each other - and that's what makes us so unique."
Wright, a former player in the C of I baseball program, just concluded his third season with Coyote softball. The Yotes have won 97 games since he stepped into the role prior to the 2019 campaign, including setting new high marks for wins in a season in 2019 and 2021.
"I think in every program that I have been involved in from a head coaching standpoint or back to coaching under Coach Humberger, you have to have great assistant coaches to have a successful program," Mendiola said. "Bobby brings multiple things to our program. He brings energy, he understands the importance of infield play and we both come from the same program, so we have the same expectations. It's always great to have a College of Idaho baseball player come in because we both played for the same guy, so we know and understand our expectations. He brings youth and energy for sure and really knows how to relate to the girls."
Callen, in her fourth year with the Yotes, was instrumental in leading the way for one of just two pitching staffs in the NAIA this year that had three pitchers with 10 or more wins.
"Justine did a great job with our pitching staff," Mendiola said. "I trust her just like I trust Bobby. Obviously, I have to make the ultimate decisions, but I ask for a lot of feedback from her on things like who is pitching well during the week. She did a great job of keeping our pitchers focused on their job and their role. It was a pretty tough group to say who was the best or who was the number one or whatever, but she just did a great job of making sure the pitchers understood their role, and when that situation came up, we communicated and said 'hey, it's time to take her out' or 'third time through the lineup'. She was an intricate part of the success of the pitching staff because she prepared them, whether it was spins, power or alignment."
After advancing further in the postseason than any other team in program history, the Yotes will look for more of the same in 2021 and beyond.
"I had a great year with these guys and I hope that we can continue this for a long time," Mendiola said. "I love our coaching staff. I think they do a great job with the girls."