Arizona Christian University

For Head Coach Mike Mayben the 2024 season will be his third leading the Arizona Christian Softball program.

The 2023 season saw Arizona Christian collect 34 overall wins and 15 wins in GSAC action- both the second most in program history.  With the success came many new team records including triples (13), hit by pitch (38), opponent batting average (.241), most opponent strikeouts (270), most strikeouts per game (5.42), highest fielding percentage (.976), and fewest errors (35).  Twelve ladies earned GSAC Scholar-Athlete honors- the most in program history.

In his first season (2022), Coach Mayben helped the Firestorm make solid strides.  Year one was highlighted by a no-hitter and an NAIA All-American/GSAC Player of the Year selection.  As a team, the Firestorm committed just 45 errors and allowed opponents to hit .257 (third lowest in program history).

Before ACU, Coach Mayben spent four years on the staff at Southern Oregon University.  The then No.1 Raiders won back-to-back NAIA championships in 2019 and 2021 (championship not contested in 2020).  Mayben was an assistant coach three of those years but served as the interim head coach during the 2020 campaign.  Southern Oregon compiled a record of 181-32 (84.9%) and won three Cascade Collegiate Conference championships (no champ in 2020) from 2018-21.  He directly recruited six athletes that were part of the core 2021 championship team including the Cascade Collegiate Conference Newcomer of the Year. 

Prior to his time at SOU, Coach Mayben led North Medford High School to five state championship games- winning the title four times including his last season as coach in 2017.  NMHS won eight straight Southwest Conference championships.  Mayben amassed a record of 275-66 (80.6%) as the head coach of the Black Tornado.  He was named the Oregon State Athletic Association 6A Coach of the Year on four occasions.

When not on the softball dirt or turf, Coach Mayben has taught everything from math and science to broadcasting, web design, computer skills, and career skills at the middle school, high school, and university levels.  Along with coaching, he runs the ACU career center.

Educationally, Coach Mayben graduated from Corban University with a degree in elementary education in 1998.  He added a master’s degree in education from Lesley University in 2006.

Coach Mayben and his wife/assistant coach- Casey- have two grown daughters- Taelor (an ACU assistant coach) and Mia.  Both Mike and Casey were inducted into their alma mater North Medford High School Wall of Fame.