SAN FRANCISCO – Academy of Art University Athletics has announced Mariah Mazon as its new assistant coach for softball. Mazon will work alongside Head Coach Geena Garabedian as ART U prepares for the 2024 season ahead.

"I'm very excited to be joining the softball coaching staff at Academy of Art," Mazon said. "I've heard great things about the university, athletes, and department. I love sharing my knowledge and love for the game. I can't wait to help develop and create a competitive pitching staff."
 
Mazon recently finished playing professional softball for Athletes Unlimited domestically as well as the Toda Medics in Japan. A gold medal winner with Team USA at the 2022 Pan American Championship, Mazon authored a 1.40 earned run average in two appearances during round-robin play with 10 strikeouts over 5.0 innings in Guatemala.

In the program's final season, Mazon served as the assistant coach for softball with Garabedian at Holy Names. In addition to earning their second consecutive Highest Team GPA Award, the Hawks spent the 2023 season matching their highest conference win total in program history, added their highest overall win total since 2016, and achieved a victory over No. 9 Concordia along the way.

"I'm extremely excited to have Mariah join me on staff at Academy of Art," Garabedian said. "I have worked with her in the past and I can say without a doubt that she brings great experience and knowledge that will help strengthen the program. She's dedicated to providing the best student-athlete experience possible. I look forward to working with her as we continue to build on her first year at Academy of Art."
 
Prior to graduating with a dual bachelor's degree in Psychology and Sociology, Mazon was a five-year dual-threat pitching/hitting star at Oregon State who guided the team to the Women's College World Series in 2022. A highly decorated student-athlete, career strikeout record holder (865) at OSU, and owner of seven no-hitters plus one perfect game (Mar. 12, 2021 versus Sacramento State) in her collegiate career, Mazon's accolades include NFCA All-American, two-time Softball America All-American, three-time NFCA All-Region, four-time All-Pac-12, and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week. She finished with a 2.23 ERA and 70 victories in 871.0 career innings pitched while adding a .325 batting average, 21 home runs, and 82 runs batted in across 193 games played.

Outside of her athletic accomplishments, Mazon served as a member of OSU Captain's Tables, a collaborative effort to build leadership within the department's athletic programs, and worked multiple softball skills youth camps hosted by Oregon State.