Photo by: Gary Breedlove
SB | Garnett Named D1Softball Mid-Major Coach of the Year
5/27/2026 6:01:00 AM | Softball
LOS ANGELES – As just announced by D1Softball, Saint Mary's Softball Head Coach Sonja Garnett has been named the 2026 Mid-Major Coach of the Year. This comes on the back of the Gaels' most successful season in program history that featured 42 wins, including the first two NCAA Tournament wins in program history.
Coach Garnett is coming off of a season in which she led the Gaels to their third consecutive West Coast Conference title. The Gaels were one of just 11 mid-major programs in the country to record at least 40 wins, going 42-16, becoming the first program to eclipse 41 wins in Saint Mary's history. After the Gaels won the WCC by a hefty four game margin, Garnett was honored as the conference coach of the year, but what her team did in postseason play was truly extraordinary. The Gaels entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament without a postseason win under their belt in program history. They proceeded to log their first two in the Eugene Regional, knocking out both Idaho State and host Oregon in elimination bouts to move onto the Regional Final, making them one of just four non-Power Four schools to earn a Regional Final bid. The Gaels would ultimately fall to Mississippi State in the Regional Final, a team that is now bound for Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series. Under Garnett's tutelage this year, the Gaels either tied or broke 16 different program records this season.
Prior to the Gaels departing for the Eugene Regional, Coach Garnett signed a six year contract extension with Saint Mary's Softball, ensuring that the future of the program is in excellent hands.
#GaelsRise
Coach Garnett is coming off of a season in which she led the Gaels to their third consecutive West Coast Conference title. The Gaels were one of just 11 mid-major programs in the country to record at least 40 wins, going 42-16, becoming the first program to eclipse 41 wins in Saint Mary's history. After the Gaels won the WCC by a hefty four game margin, Garnett was honored as the conference coach of the year, but what her team did in postseason play was truly extraordinary. The Gaels entered the 2026 NCAA Tournament without a postseason win under their belt in program history. They proceeded to log their first two in the Eugene Regional, knocking out both Idaho State and host Oregon in elimination bouts to move onto the Regional Final, making them one of just four non-Power Four schools to earn a Regional Final bid. The Gaels would ultimately fall to Mississippi State in the Regional Final, a team that is now bound for Oklahoma City and the Women's College World Series. Under Garnett's tutelage this year, the Gaels either tied or broke 16 different program records this season.
Prior to the Gaels departing for the Eugene Regional, Coach Garnett signed a six year contract extension with Saint Mary's Softball, ensuring that the future of the program is in excellent hands.
#GaelsRise
SB | NCAA Regional Recap
Saturday, May 23
SB | Postgame Press Conference, Eugene Regional Game Four, 5-17-26
Sunday, May 17
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Idaho State & Oregon Highlights, 5-16-26
Sunday, May 17
SB | Saint Mary's vs. Mississippi State Highlights, 5-115-26
Sunday, May 17
