Paris Junior College Athletic Director Clay Cox has announced the hiring of Mike Mendenhall as the next head coach of the Lady Dragon Softball program. Mendenhall arrives in Paris after leading McCook Community College to unprecedented success, including back-to-back NJCAA Division I Softball World Series appearances and consecutive Region IX Championships.
Over the past four seasons at McCook, Mendenhall transformed the Lady Indians into one of the premier junior college softball programs in the nation, compiling an outstanding 170-70 overall record while building a culture centered around excellence, accountability, and student-athlete development.
“Mike Mendenhall is exactly the leader we were looking for to continue the tradition of excellence that defines PJC Softball,” said Dr. Stephen Benson, President of Paris Junior College. “His proven success at McCook Community College, combined with the outstanding academic achievements of his student-athletes, reflects his commitment to developing champions both on the field and in the classroom. We are thrilled to welcome Mike, Erin, and their family to Paris Junior College and are confident he is the right person to build upon the tremendous momentum of our softball program and lead Dragon Softball to even greater success.”
During the 2025 season, Mendenhall led the Lady Indians to a record-setting 51-11 campaign, earning the program’s first-ever trip to the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series in Yuma, Arizona. Entering the tournament unranked, McCook advanced to the Elite Eight with victories over No. 10 Butler, No. 8 Trinity Valley, and No. 2 McLennan.
The 2026 season proved to be another historic campaign as the Lady Indians finished 54-9, captured a second consecutive Region IX Championship, and returned to the NJCAA Division I Softball World Series. McCook also achieved the highest national ranking in program history, climbing to No. 16 nationally.
For the second consecutive season, Mendenhall was named both the Region IX Coach of the Year and Northwest Plains District Coach of the Year, recognizing his role in establishing McCook among the nation’s elite programs. In his third season at McCook, he also earned the 100th victory of his collegiate coaching career.
“During this search, we set out to find someone who was relationship-driven, put the student-athlete first, aligned with our core values and mission, could continue the rich tradition of our softball program, and was a proven winner. With Mike, we feel like we checked every one of those boxes,” said Clay Cox, Athletic Director at Paris Junior College.
“Mike is a proven winner who genuinely cares about people and is passionate about developing student-athletes. We are incredibly excited to welcome Mike, Erin, and their family to the PJC family, and we look forward to the continued success of Dragon Softball under his leadership.”
Before arriving at McCook, Mendenhall built an impressive coaching résumé through successful stops at both the high school and collegiate levels, earning a reputation for developing student-athletes, building winning cultures, and emphasizing excellence both on the field and in the classroom. His teams have consistently been recognized for their toughness, discipline, competitive mindset, and commitment to academic success and character development.
“I am incredibly honored to be named the next Head Softball Coach at Paris Junior College,” said Mendenhall. “Thank you to Coach Cox and the administration for this amazing opportunity and for believing in my vision. I can’t wait to get to work with our student-athletes and become part of the PJC family.”
Mendenhall and his wife, Erin, have six children: Colby, Lilly, Landry, Faith, Maddox, and Michaela.
