Oregon’s Missy Lombardi Wins #100: Five Fast Facts

Oregon head coach Melyssa Lombardi recorded her 100th win as a head coach on Sunday.

Lombardi reached the milestone in a 9-3 victory over UConn in the final game of the Ducks’ five-game swing through the state of North Carolina.

While Lombardi celebrates the milestone win, here are Five Fast Facts about her and her career to this point.

1. She is in her fourth year leading the Oregon program.

Hired to lead the Ducks’ program following the 2018 season and ahead of the 2019 campaign, Lombardi is in her fourth season at the helm of the program in 2022. She reached the 100-win plateau in just her 152nd game as a head coach

2. Oregon is only the second school where she has ever coached.

Prior to taking over the Oregon program in the summer of 2018, Lombardi spent two decades as the lead assistant coach at Oklahoma. She was part of four national championships as a coach with the Sooners – the program where she spent her own playing career – and served as the pitching, catching, and first base coach for the better part of her tenure on staff.

3. She earned acclaim and awards for her work even as an assistant coach.

While at Oklahoma, Lombardi was part of the Sooners staff when the program earned National Coaching Staff of the Year awards. In 2017, she was named the top assistant coach in Division I by the NFCA.

4. She has piloted a remarkable turnaround in the Oregon program.

Following the departure of former head coach Mike White and Lombardi’s arrival in Eugene, the Ducks’ roster underwent significant turnover virtually overnight. In Lombardi’s first season as head coach, the Ducks finished under .500 and missed the NCAA tournament. Two years later, in 2021, the Ducks won 40 games and are once-again considered World Series contenders this season.

5. She got a Gatorade bath after Sunday’s victory!

The win on Sunday made the Ducks 5-0 on their trip through North Carolina, in addition to giving Lombardi her 100th win, and the team celebrated by dousing their coach in the traditional manner.

The team celebrated Coach @MelyssaLombardi's 100th win at Oregon in the traditional manner. @Forever_Jordann has been there for every one of them.#GoDucks 🦆🥎 #Version4 pic.twitter.com/BhZj9JAVCo

— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB) March 6, 2022