June 29, 2005

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Santa Clara University has appointed Belmont native Steve Rianda as the 11th head coach in school's 26-year softball history, Director of Athletics and Recreation Dan Coonan announced today. Rianda will begin his duties July 1. He replaces Jaime Forman-Lau, who resigned in June after leading the Broncos through the 2005 campaign.

Rianda spent the past four seasons as the head coach of Notre Dame de Namur University, where he led the Argos to three straight Cal Pac Independent League championships. His 2003 squad set a new program mark for wins (34) and he followed in 2004 with a third-place finish at State. The past two seasons have seen 12 Daktronics Academic All-Americans and two All-Region first-team selections.

"Steve will be an exciting addition to our staff," Coonan said. "The value he will bring to the field was evident early in our interview process, and the additional connection he made with the student-athletes helped seal the deal. I have every confidence we will be able to continue the program's upward momentum under Steve's leadership."

Rianda began his playing career at the College of San Mateo, where he was named his team's MVP after the 1991 season. He transferred to Cal Poly, where he was a catcher on two squads that advanced to the College World Series; the 1992 team placed second and the '93 squad followed with a third-place showing.

Rianda's coaching career began in 1995 at Boston University, where he was the Terriers' head pitching coach and West Coast regional recruiter while earning a master's degree. In 1997, he returned to the College of San Mateo, where he served three years as an assistant coach. He moved on to the Bulldogs' softball program in 2000, where he was a pitching coach. The 2001 CSM team won the Northern California Conference and was also the Junior College North Champion.

While coaching, Rianda also developed a successful background in administration and sales, and currently is also a region sales rep for a sporting goods and equipment sales company.

"I am very excited to be here and have the opportunity to coach at Santa Clara," Rianda said. "This is a great place to be and I look forward to building on the softball program's recent successes."

Rianda earned a bachelor's degree in kinesiology and sport psychology from Cal Poly in 1995 and followed with a master's of education in sport psychology and counseling from Boston University in '96. He and his wife, Tanya, have two children: three-year-old Alexis and one-year-old Garrett. An avid runner, Rianda participated in the 1995 L.A. Marathon and the 1999 Napa Valley Marathon, while also taking part in the 1996 Wildflower Triathlon.