Coach Mendez is in her third season as an assistant coach with the OU softball program.
In her three previous seasons, Mendez helped the Braves to a record of 84-36 and has coached 17 All-KCAC players and two NAIA All-Americans. She helped lead OU to 16 straight winning seasons. Mendez was part of the staff named the NFCA Region IV Coaching Staff of the Year.
Before coming to Ottawa University, Mendez spent two years as a graduate assistant coach with Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla. She helped guide the Riverhawks to a record of 55-54, including a seven game improvement in the win column in 2018. While at NSU, Mendez assisted with outfielders, catchers and base running. She coached six All-Conference players for the Riverhawks.
Prior to NSU, Mendez was the head softball coach and housing director at Ellsworth Community College located in Iowa Falls, Iowa, from August 2013 to May of 2015. At ECC, Mendez coached eight All-Conference players.Â
Mendez (Shaffer) graduated from Ottawa University in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She played in 88 career games and made 47 starts at Ottawa University. She posted a career batting average of .248 (32-for-129) to go along with one double, four triples, 15 RBI, and 50 runs scored. She was also 49-for-50 on stolen-base attempts.
The Braves tallied a record of 140-83 during her time with the program and helped guide the team to back-to-back KCAC Championships (2010-11) and a berth in the NAIA National Championship tournament (2010). Ottawa finished the 2011 campaign with a program-record 32 victories.
Mendez graduated from Ottawa University with her degree in elementary education in May of 2013. She received her masters from NSU in health and kinesiology in May for 2018. She is married to former OU fooball player and NSU football assistant coach Julian Mendez.
