Head Coach Liz Mendiola

AT COLLEGE OF IDAHO: Liz Mendiola is in her 22nd season as head coach of the C of I volleyball program and has posted a career record of 469-214, the most wins and highest win percentage in program history.  Her 445 wins are the most by a women's coach in school history. Mendiola also served as an assistant coach for the Yotes during the 1995, 1996, 1999, and 2000 seasons.

HONORS: Mendiola was named CCC Coach of the Year in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2013.  During her tenure, she has coached 37 All-CCC selections, 19 NAIA All-Americans, 51 CCC All-Academic Team selections and 33 NAIA Scholar-Athletes.

POSTSEASON APPEARANCES: The Coyotes have advanced to the postseason in 19 of Mendiola's 20 seasons as head coach, including 18 consecutive berths in the Cascade Conference Championships from 2001-19.

CHAMPIONSHIPS: Under Mendiola, the Yotes have won eight CCC regular-season titles (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013); have won eight CCC postseason tournament championships (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015); and won the 2005 and 2006 NAIA Region I titles.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES: C of I has made 12 trips to the NAIA Volleyball National Championships under Mendiola (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2019), advancing to the final site of the tournament on 11 occasions.

HIGHLIGHTS: In 2006, Mendiola led the Lady Yotes to their best season in program history, compiling a 35-4 record - earning CCC and NAIA Region I Coach of the Year honors. The Yotes won their first CCC championship in 24 years, becoming just the second school to complete the league schedule without a loss. The Coyotes also captured their second-straight CCC Tournament title, along with their second-straight NAIA Region I Tournament title, before placing ninth at the NAIA Championships – with that team setting a school-record with 22 straight wins. In both 2011 and 2017 , the Lady Yotes made their deepest run at the NAIA Championships, advancing to the national quarterfinals before a loss to Columbia (Mo.) in 2011 and to Missouri Baptist in 2017.  Her team won a school record 42-straight home matches from 2005-08 and won a league-record 73-straight conference home matches from 2005-13.  C of I has been ranked in the NAIA Top-25 poll every season since 2005, climbing as high as No. 6 multiple times, as recent as the 2013 preseason poll. 

BEFORE C OF I: Mendiola has previously coached club volleyball for the Treasure Valley Volleyball Club, the Boise River Volleyball Club, and various camps in the Northwest.

PERSONAL: A native of Jerome, Mendiola graduated from the C of I in 1996 with a degree in elementary education, and taught kindergarten in Nampa before becoming head coach in 2001. A two-year member of the Coyotes, Mendiola set school records for kills per game (4.86) in 1994, and held the school mark for kills per game in a career (4.46) for eight seasons. She earned All-CCC honors following her senior season with the Yotes. She is married to former Coyote baseball standout and current C of I softball coach Al Mendiola. The Mendiola’s have two children, Aleah and Micah, and live in Middleton.