Sept. 14, 2005

Santa Clara, Calif. - Santa Clara University has named former 1996 Olympian Lisa Mize as an assistant coach to softball team in preparation for the 2005-06 softball season, announced head coach Steve Rianda. Mize will assist in all aspects of the program, with an emphasis as the head pitching coach.

"I am excited to have Lisa join the program. Her experience, coaching style and work ethic is going to put a spark into this program," said Rianda.

Mize brings a wealth of experience with her to Santa Clara. A right-handed pitcher, Mize was a member of the Puerto Rican National Team from 1989-96 and competed in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Collegiately, Mize played for softball power Fresno State in 1993, where she led the Bulldogs to the NCAA Regional Finals. Prior to Fresno State, she played at Colorado State University (1992) and at Chabot College (1990-1991). In 1991, Mize was honored as the California State Pitcher of the Year and helped her squad to the California JUCO Finals.

Her coaching experience includes a three-year stint at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., where she assisted with the softball program as a volunteer assistant coach from 1993-96.

Outside of the sporting world, Mize has been the owner and operator of the Lisa Mize Fastpitch Academy (Los Gatos, Calif.) since 2001, where she develops specific curriculums in order to enhance a student's specified talents in softball. She also provides guidance and insight in a goal-oriented environment for college-bound athletes. In addition, Mize owned the Olympian School of Softball from 1993-2001, where she gave private pitching & hitting instruction to student athletes on a weekly basis.