SANTA CLARA, Calif.—Mission College announced the hiring of former UC Davis softball coach and current Calistoga High School Athletics Director Karen Yoder as its new Athletics Director.
Yoder comes to Mission with a combined 24 years of experience at the Division-I, Division-II, Division III, NAIA, community college, and high school levels. She has a combined 19 years of teaching experience as a kinesiology/physical education as well.
Yoder was the head softball coach at Napa High School (2015), UC Davis (2005-14), Napa Valley College (2003-04), UNC-Greensboro (2001-02) and Cal State Hayward (1998-2000). She was an assistant coach at Cal State Hayward (1996-97) and began her coaching career at West Valley College (1995).
Yoder claimed three conference titles at Cal State Hayward, Napa Valley College, and UC Davis while earning the conference coach of the year honor three times (Cal Pac Conference, Bay Valley Conference, and Big West Conference). She coached post season teams at Napa High, UCD, NVC, CSUH, and WVC.
Yoder led UC Davis Softball to the 2010 Big West Conference title and NCAA Regional after serving as the head coach during its transition from Division-II to Division-I. She coached two Big West Pitchers of the year and two Freshmen of the Year, and 36 all-conference honorees in her 10 seasons. The Aggies claimed the Big West title in three short years after entering NCAA Division I.
At NVC Yoder restarted the softball program in July 2002 and as a result claimed the Bay Valley Conference title in 2003. At CSUH Yoder transitioned the Pioneers from Division II to dual members of Division III and NAIA setting the stage for a Cal Pac Conference title 1999 and Regional runner up finish to NAIA National Champion finalist Azusa Pacific.
In 2015 Yoder decided to refocus her passion for athletics into Administration.
As an athlete Yoder was an All-American in 1990 and the CCCAA Nor Cal Catcher of the Year at West Valley College 1991. She then played two years at the University of New Mexico (1991-94) two years professionally with the Georgia Pride and Durham Dragons of the WPF.
Yoder received her Bachelor’s in Physical Education from Cal State Hayward in 1996 and Master’s in Kinesiology from Cal State Hayward in 1999.