SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – CSUSB Director of Athletics Shawn Farrell has announced the hiring of Dee Payan as the next Softball head coach at CSUSB.
Payan just completed her second year on the Chico State coaching staff. As the lead assistant, the former Chico State star was instrumental in the Wildcat's 2018 West Regional and CCAA Championships. Payan was named, along with the rest of the Chico coaching staff, as the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
"I am very honored and excited to be the next Softball Head Coach for Cal State San Bernardino," Payan said. "I would like to thank President Morales, Director of Athletics Shawn Ferrell, Senior Woman Administrator Chelsea Herman, and the entire search committee for this opportunity. This has been a dream come true. Our future is very bright and I'm ready to get to work to start a new era of Coyote Softball."
She will take the reins of the Coyote softball program immediately and lead them into the 2019 season, becoming the eighth head coach in program history. She is known as a passionate leader with the ability to develop a championship culture.
"Dee stood out during the hiring process with her level of preparedness and desire to be our next head coach," Farrell said. "Dee is a rising star within softball coaching. She has had tremendous success at every school during her coaching career. She knows the conference well and will hit the ground running. Dee's energy is infectious and we look forward to working with her to develop a championship softball program."
Payan worked extensively with the Wildcat hitters and infielders, while also assisting with every aspect of the program, including recruiting and directing camps.
Prior to returning to Chico State, Payan was part of the UC San Diego coaching staff that guided the Tritons to the 2016 CCAA Championship. Payan spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons coaching at Fullerton College, where she began her college career, and logged three years as a coach for the Cal A's travel ball organization in Southern California along assisting at Cerritos High School in 2015.
Payan played at Chico State in 2011 and 2012, and in two years as a Wildcat, she batted .349, fifth best in the program's history, while twice earning All-CCAA honors. As a senior, Payan was named First Team All-West Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
Payan began her college career at Fullerton College, where she was a two-time All-Orange Empire Conference First Team selection and named First Team All-SoCal by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in 2010. She was also a standout at South El Monte High School, earning First Team All-Mission Valley League honors in 2007 and 2008 while being named All-Valley First Team by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune her senior year.
Payan received her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Chico State in 2012. She earned her master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2015. She replaces Jim Maier, who accepted the head coaching position at Cal State Dominguez Hills earlier this fall.
