Missouri Baptist University Director of Athletics Jeff Fore announced the official appointment of Edgar Mendez as the Spartans’ next head women’s basketball coach.
“I am thankful for the opportunity that President Dr. Keith Ross and Athletics Director Jeff Fore have provided me at such a wonderful university,” Mendez said. “I’m extremely excited to compete at a higher level and looking forward to working with the current student-athletes and recruits to build MBU into a perennial winner. Being a coach has become my ministry. I consider myself the pastor of the basketball program, so when I coach, I instruct the team in a manner that shows God’s grace and love. I take it very seriously when a family entrusts their daughter under my care. My goal is always to help the student-athletes become better players and better women, especially stronger women of God.”
Mendez comes to Missouri Baptist following a successful stint as head women’s basketball coach at Simpson University in Redding, Calif. Mendez took the Red Hawk program to new heights with a series of firsts, including the first Cal Pac Tournament win, first Cal Pac Tournament finals appearance, first 20-win season, and first NAIA Women’s Basketball National Tournament bid.
With a year under his belt at SU, Mendez earned 2022-23 Cal Pac Coach of the Year honors after leading the Red Hawks to a 20-11 overall record, a 16-4 mark in conference play, and runner-up finishes in the regular-season and Cal Pac Tournament. Across the past two seasons, Simpson sported the second-best league record at 28-12 (.700%). Mendez coached six All-Cal Pac selections, including three First Teamers and the 2022-23 Cal Pac Newcomer of the Year Celina Tress.
“It is my privilege to welcome Coach Mendez to the MBU community,” Director of Athletics Jeff Fore said. “His resume and years of experience speak for itself. Having coached against him, I know he’s a proven winner and a class act. The women’s basketball program is in great hands with him at the helm. Most importantly, I know that he will fulfill MBU’s mission to inspire and empower the student-athletes to be agents of great character, leadership, and transformation in our world.”
Before Simpson, Coach Mendez spent nine seasons at his alma mater, San Diego Christian College, on the men’s side. After five years as assistant men’s basketball coach, Mendez was promoted to head coach of the Hawks and remained in the role for four seasons. Highlights during his time at SDCC included coaching NAIA All-American Dalante Dunklin, GSAC scoring lead Derek Novsek (21.1 ppg), the team’s best record in 17 years, along with three Top 10 upsets of No. 1 / No. 3 Concordia (Calif.) and No. 7 Fresno Pacific.
Mendez has coached at nearly every level, including professionally in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP), Mexico’s top professional basketball league, and the ABA. In the early 2000s, Mendez coached men’s basketball at Cuyamaca Junior College (2001-03) and boy’s basketball at Scripps Ranch High School (2003-07).
A San Diego Christian College graduate, Mendez earned his bachelor’s degree in Human Development with an associate’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Phoenix. Edgar is married to Rosa Maria Mendez.
Mendez will begin his duties at Missouri Baptist immediately.
