Photo by: Saint Mary's Athletics / Tod Fierner
SB | Two-Time WCC Coach of the Year Sonja Garnett Signs Six Year Contract Extension
5/12/2026 3:00:00 PM | Softball
MORAGA, Calif. — Over the last eight seasons, Saint Mary's Softball Head Coach Sonja Garnett has built her program into a juggernaut in the West Coast Conference. The Gaels have won at least a share of the WCC Title in each of the last three seasons, winning the conference outright in 2024 and 2026 to clinch their second and third NCAA Regional berths in program history. As such, it should come as no surprise that Coach Garnett has been offered and signed a six year contract extension.
"I am very pleased to announce a well deserved new long term contract for Sonja Garnett," noted Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso. "Sonja has done an incredible job at Saint Mary's building a program year by year to the point of three consecutive conference championships and an incredible record breaking season with 40 wins, and counting. We are excited to see what the future brings with her leadership of the program."
Garnett inherited a Saint Mary's Softball Program in 2019 that had not experienced a winning season since 2012. Brick by brick, Garnett built her program culture from the ground up, and as that culture spread the wins started rolling in. In 2023, the Gaels experienced their first 20 win season since 2016, finishing in third place in the WCC, matching the program's best finish. They followed that up with their first WCC Title in 2024…and then another in 2025…and a third this year in 2026. Garnett has guided the Gaels to now two of their three NCAA Regionals in program history, and was responsible for recruiting and coaching the program's first three three-time All-WCC athletes, Odhi Vasquez, Sam Buckley and Hannah Ferguson, with Vasquez becoming just the second-ever four-time All-WCC honoree this year. She was named the WCC Coach of the Year in 2024 and in 2026, making her the third-ever multi-time winning WCC Coach of the Year in conference history.
"I am so proud and honored to be at Saint Mary's and coaching our student athletes," Garnett said. "I am grateful to Mike Matoso, President Roger Thompson, and Ed Arnold for their continued support and vision for the program. This is a great opportunity to continue to grow the program and our amazing athletes. God is a Gael! "
Garnett has an opportunity to add to her incredible resume this weekend, looking for Saint Mary's Softball's first ever NCAA Tournament win, as the Gaels open play in the Eugene Regional on Friday with a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Mississippi State.
#GaelsRise
"I am very pleased to announce a well deserved new long term contract for Sonja Garnett," noted Saint Mary's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Matoso. "Sonja has done an incredible job at Saint Mary's building a program year by year to the point of three consecutive conference championships and an incredible record breaking season with 40 wins, and counting. We are excited to see what the future brings with her leadership of the program."
Garnett inherited a Saint Mary's Softball Program in 2019 that had not experienced a winning season since 2012. Brick by brick, Garnett built her program culture from the ground up, and as that culture spread the wins started rolling in. In 2023, the Gaels experienced their first 20 win season since 2016, finishing in third place in the WCC, matching the program's best finish. They followed that up with their first WCC Title in 2024…and then another in 2025…and a third this year in 2026. Garnett has guided the Gaels to now two of their three NCAA Regionals in program history, and was responsible for recruiting and coaching the program's first three three-time All-WCC athletes, Odhi Vasquez, Sam Buckley and Hannah Ferguson, with Vasquez becoming just the second-ever four-time All-WCC honoree this year. She was named the WCC Coach of the Year in 2024 and in 2026, making her the third-ever multi-time winning WCC Coach of the Year in conference history.
"I am so proud and honored to be at Saint Mary's and coaching our student athletes," Garnett said. "I am grateful to Mike Matoso, President Roger Thompson, and Ed Arnold for their continued support and vision for the program. This is a great opportunity to continue to grow the program and our amazing athletes. God is a Gael! "
Garnett has an opportunity to add to her incredible resume this weekend, looking for Saint Mary's Softball's first ever NCAA Tournament win, as the Gaels open play in the Eugene Regional on Friday with a 4:30 p.m. matchup against Mississippi State.
#GaelsRise
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