BERKELEY, Calif – Mariel Mendoza was named a volunteer assistant coach for the California cross country team as announced on Tuesday by Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Robyne Johnson. The hire is the latest on Johnson's inaugural staff, joining first-year head coach Bobby Lockhart and assistant Chas Davis to coach the middle distance and distance groups throughout the cross country season.
 
"This is home for me," said Mendoza. "I am deeply honored to return to my alma mater. It definitely played a factor in my decision to return as a volunteer coach. The program has a lot to offer and I am really excited to get started and work alongside such an experienced, successful staff."
 
Mendoza returns to Cal after playing an integral role for the women's cross country and track & field program during her collegiate career at Berkeley. In 2016, Mendoza ran distance for the Bears' track lineup in the spring and recorded a personal best 3,000-meter time of 9:55.10 at the Stanford Invitational. She also recorded a second personal record of 16:32.65 in the 5,000-meters at the Pac-12 Championships.
 
During the 2015 cross country season, Mendoza battled back from a preseason stress fracture in her shin during the fall to become one of the Bears' top runners towards the end of the year. She ended the campaign racing with the top group for the Blue and Gold and posted one of her best times of her career in the 6,000-meter race at the NCAA Regionals that season. During track & field, Mendoza recorded a first-place finish in the 5,000-meter race with a then-personal best time of 17:29.59 at the Hornet Invitational.
 
"I am really excited to have her back," assistant coach Chas Davis said. "She was a core part of our foundation for our women's cross country and track & field teams during her time at Cal. She will be a great role model and mentor for both our teams this year. She understands both the challenges and opportunities that come with being a student-athlete at Berkeley, and with us having such a young team, she is exactly the kind of person we are looking for. She will play a prominent role in our success moving forward."
 
Academically, Mendoza is often praised for her commitment and dedication in the classroom. In 2014, Mendoza earned a Pac-12 Track & Field All-Academic Honorable Mention selection. She followed up her recognition with Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention honors in both cross country and track & field during the 2015 season. Mendoza finished her career at Cal with Mountain Pacific Sports Federation All-Academic Scholar Athlete honors during the 2016 track & field season.
 
"I know the dynamic of being a student-athlete here at Cal is not always easy," Mendoza said. "I remember what it is like to be in their shoes, juggling a vigorous course load of classes, on top of weights and practice and meets on the weekends. And, I think that is where I can contribute the most. I'm coming into this experience excited to lend a hand and help grow the direction of the program. I am looking forward to helping our student-athletes reach their fullest potential and learning plenty myself along the way."
 
A native of Riverside, Calif., Mendoza recently started her Master of Public Health (MPH) program at Berkeley's School of Public Health. She completed her undergraduate studies from Berkeley in 2016 with a degree in public health while minoring in public policy.