Photo by: SMC Athletics / Piper Westrom
SB | Head Coach Sonja Garnett Extended Through 2029 with the Gaels
1/14/2025 1:30:00 PM | Softball
MORAGA, Calif. — Coming off of her first WCC Coach of the Year award, Saint Mary's Softball Head Coach Sonja Garnett has had her contract extended through the 2029 season. Coach Garnett has led the Gaels to a steady rise, getting them to 20 wins for the first time since 2016 in 2023, before getting to 30 wins last season, the Gaels best since 2010. Her 30th win in 2024 was quite the memorable victory, as it gave the Gaels their first WCC title in program history, and was her 100th career win at the helm of the Saint Mary's Softball program. After 100 wins in her first six seasons, Garnett is poised to add even more over the next five seasons and beyond.
"I am extremely proud of how Coach Garnett has turned our softball program into the successful program that it is today!" stated Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso, "The steady improvement over the last six years has brought excitement around our softball program, and now that the groundwork has been laid, I am excited to see what this team can do under the continued leadership of Coach Garnett!"
With 100 wins for her career, Coach Garnett currently ranks third in program history in wins, and is three away from moving into second all-time. After leading the Gaels to their first ever WCC Title in 2024, Garnett became the first Saint Mary's Softball Head Coach to win WCC Coach of the Year, led by the Gaels first ever WCC Pitcher of the Year, Odhi Vasquez, and their second ever WCC Freshman of the Year, Sam Buckley. Over her five year tenure in Moraga, Coach Garnett has coached five first team All-WCC honorees, 15 second team honorees, and 11 honorable mentions. The Gaels have also thrived in the classroom under Coach Garnett's tutelage, with 32 academic all-conference honorees.
On the contract extension, Head Coach Sonja Garnett noted:
"I am honored and excited to continue to be at the helm of Saint Mary's Softball. This has been a tremendous community to be a part of, and I am extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish as a program. I am grateful to Mike Matoso for this opportunity, and to Ed Arnold for his presence and support as our sport supervisor. To all of the coaches and players (former, present and future) thank you for your trust and work to make this program better than you found it. I look forward to continuing to invest in our athletes, our program and our community!"
Year seven of Coach Garnett's tenure and year one of this five year extension will begin on February 7 at the Norcal Kickoff, co-hosted by Sacramento State and UC Davis.
#GaelsRise
"I am extremely proud of how Coach Garnett has turned our softball program into the successful program that it is today!" stated Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso, "The steady improvement over the last six years has brought excitement around our softball program, and now that the groundwork has been laid, I am excited to see what this team can do under the continued leadership of Coach Garnett!"
With 100 wins for her career, Coach Garnett currently ranks third in program history in wins, and is three away from moving into second all-time. After leading the Gaels to their first ever WCC Title in 2024, Garnett became the first Saint Mary's Softball Head Coach to win WCC Coach of the Year, led by the Gaels first ever WCC Pitcher of the Year, Odhi Vasquez, and their second ever WCC Freshman of the Year, Sam Buckley. Over her five year tenure in Moraga, Coach Garnett has coached five first team All-WCC honorees, 15 second team honorees, and 11 honorable mentions. The Gaels have also thrived in the classroom under Coach Garnett's tutelage, with 32 academic all-conference honorees.
On the contract extension, Head Coach Sonja Garnett noted:
"I am honored and excited to continue to be at the helm of Saint Mary's Softball. This has been a tremendous community to be a part of, and I am extremely proud of what we have been able to accomplish as a program. I am grateful to Mike Matoso for this opportunity, and to Ed Arnold for his presence and support as our sport supervisor. To all of the coaches and players (former, present and future) thank you for your trust and work to make this program better than you found it. I look forward to continuing to invest in our athletes, our program and our community!"
Year seven of Coach Garnett's tenure and year one of this five year extension will begin on February 7 at the Norcal Kickoff, co-hosted by Sacramento State and UC Davis.
#GaelsRise
Players Mentioned
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