Bio

2019, 2021, and 2024 Co-OEC Coach of the Year - 2019 and 2024 State Coach of the Year

Entering her 27th season overall for the Fullerton College softball program, Marian “Speedy” Mendoza brings years of experience as both a player and coach to the coaching staff.

A 1987 graduate of Garden Grove High School, Mendoza was an outstanding prep athlete, earning a letter in three different sports (softball, basketball and volleyball) all four years of her high school career. However, she was as her best on the softball diamond, where she collected many awards and honors that can attribute to her skills and dedication. Among her many awards are All-CIF accolades for softball in each of her final three seasons. Her awards were not limited to the softball diamond, and she earned three all-league selections in basketball and volleyball, establishing her as an outstanding athlete.

Mendoza played travel ball with the 14-U Panthers, 18-U Inland Cities Raiders and Women’s Open Team, the Irocs. Each of these teams became National Champions during her career with them. Speedy also won a World Championship representing USA Junior National team in 1987, the first ever Junior National Team to bring home the Gold.

Speedy went on to earn a softball scholarship to powerhouse Long Beach State where she helped lead the 49ers to a fourth-place finish at the 1988 Women's College World Series, while also helping the team to the 1990 and 1991 WCWS.

Continuing her softball career, she was approached in 1998 with the opportunity of a lifetime, to play professionally with the Tampa Bay Firestix. This was her exciting chance to be able to fulfill a dream that was once only a thought.

With her playing days behind her, Mendoza quickly joined the coaching ranks. She served as an Assistant Coach at her alma mater, Garden Grove High School, for four years, before accepting the softball Head Coach position at Rancho Alamitos High in 1994. Her dedication and success saw her being named Coach of the year her first season. Mendoza has also coached women’s basketball at Magnolia High School, where in 1997 her girls earned the Orange League Team Sportsmanship Award. Turning her time and skills to help young women, Mendoza founded “The Academy” a softball training program for young athletes to polish their skills. The Academy offers training in offensive and defensive skills, as well as speed and agility training. Her reason for creating this program stem from her desire that all athletes of all ages should be able to reach their full potential in a positive environment that enables them to grow and be their best. Speedy was also selected to coach and mentor the Cal A's Women’s International Team that competed Internationally in Canada. Players included, Keilani Ricketts, Jordan Taylor, Amanda Chidester, Megan Denny, Blair Luna and many more D1 athletes from powerhouse schools sch as Oklahoma, Michigan, UCLA, Nebraska, LB State, Texas, CSUF, etc. In 2012, Speedy guided her Cal A’s team to win the Canada Cup in Women’s Elite Division. Mendoza is also the President of the Cal A's Travel Ball Organization with teams in So Cal, Nor Cal and Hawaii.

For the past 27 years, Mendoza has been a cornerstone of the Fullerton College softball program. She became head coach in 2011 and later shared the role with Lisa Bassi. Currently, she serves as Co-Head Coach alongside Crystal Aguirre.

Mendoza has compiled an impressive career record of 355-274 (.564) with two regular-season games remaining in the 2026 season, where the team is 25-13. Under her leadership, the Hornets have captured two Orange Empire Conference titles, made nine postseason appearances, and claimed a state championship in 2024.

She has also been recognized individually earning OEC Coach of the Year honors in 2019, 2021, and 2024, as well as State Coach of the Year accolades in 2019 and 2024.

Mendoza's success as both a player and coach is reflected in her philosophy that success is not marked in the wins or loss columns, but in the overall growth and development of the individual. Her vision is to work and empower future student athletes to reach their fullest potential. Her dream is to build a program where the players best interest is the number one goal. Her hopes are to provide guidance and knowledge to both athlete and their families to make the right choices for their future college careers.