Tia Meza, a 2000 Mater Dei graduate who was the first Gatorade National Player of the Year to come out of the school, is returning to her alma mater as Associate Softball Head Coach and Admission Marketing Coordinator, school officials announced.

Meza, formerly Tia Bollinger, will work with Mater Dei Softball Head Coach, Doug Myers, who coached her when the Monarchs won a CIF-SS championship in 1998.

“I am thrilled to work with Tia again, now as part of our coaching staff,” Myers said. “As a former Monarch, she brings knowledge of the game and the Mater Dei tradition, which will help us to continue building a successful program.”

Meza most recently serves as an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge. Meza was a two-time All-American and three-time All-Pac 10 selection at Washington where she led the Huskies to two NCAA Women’s College World Series appearances. She was also a member of the USA national softball team from 2001-02.

“I am very thankful for the opportunity that (Cal State Northridge) head coach Tairia Flowers gave me, but returning to Mater Dei is like coming home,” Meza said. “There is truly no place like it and I am very excited to be back,” Meza said. “I am looking forward to working with Doug and the staff and getting to know the students. I hope that I will be able to be a positive role model and influence in their lives.”

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