COLLEGE SOFTBALL: Mendez set to take over UTPB softball program

Samantha Mendez is set to take over the UTPB softball program, the school announced in a press release Tuesday.

Mendez joins the Falcons after serving as an assistant at Ottawa (Kan.) University since 2019.

In her time with the Braves, the school won Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference championships in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

UTPB’s head softball coaching gig was open after the school announced that former coach Tiala Tagaloa wasn’t returning to the program on May 4.

Before going to Ottawa, Mendez was an assistant at Northeastern State (Okla.) University.

It was UTPB’s second hire from Ottawa University, as the school named Gabe Grinder its new baseball coach June 10.

Grinder led the baseball team at Ottawa for four seasons and took over the Falcon program after Brian Reinke retired in May.