Head Coach Al Mendiola

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Al Mendiola is in his 17th year as head coach of the Coyote softball program and holds an all-time record of 432-319-1 - the most wins by a softball coach in school history.

HONORS: Mendiola was named 2007 Cascade Conference and NAIA Region I Coach of the Year, while earning NFCA West Region Coach of the Year honors in 2014 and was part of the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021.  He has coached 27 All-CCC players, six NAIA All-Americans, 58 CCC All-Academic Team selections, and 26 NAIA Scholar-Athlete award winners.

POSTSEASON: Under Mendiola, the Yotes have made nine postseason appearances, including the 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2021 CCC tournaments; the 2007 and 2008 NAIA Region I tournaments; and berths in the 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2019 and 2021 NAIA Softball National Championships.  His 2007 won 37 wins, winning the CCC title and finishing as the regional runners-up; his 2008 team won the regional crown and made their first appearance in the NAIA World Series; his 2009 team won the CCC regular-season title and finished in a three-way tie for first-place in their pool at the NAIA World Series; with his 2013 team winning the CCC postseason tournament and advancing to the title game of the Irvine NAIA Opening Round tournament.  In 2014, Mendiola's Yotes won the Caldwell NAIA Opening Round tournament, advancing to the NAIA World Series, where they finished fifth - ending the year ranked No. 7 in the NAIA Top-25 poll. His 2019 team set a school record with 40 victories, advancing to the title game of the Hattiesburg NAIA Opening Round Tournament. In 2021, the Yotes set a school record with 44 wins, finishing as the runner-up in the Cascade Conference Championships, before winning the Fayette NAIA Opening Round Tournament - advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA World Series, placing third overall and finishing the season ranked No. 3.

BEFORE C OF I: Outside of softball, Mendiola was also an assistant coach for the C of I baseball team for seven years.

PERSONAL: A 1994 graduate of the College, Mendiola played two seasons of baseball for head coach Tim Mooney, earning honorable mention NAIA All-America honors as a senior. His wife, Liz, has been the head volleyball coach at the College for the past 20 years. The Mendiola's have two children, Aleah and Micah, and reside in Middleton. Mendiola is also currently the Idaho State Director of Fastpitch Northwest.