UC Riverside Softball Finalizes Coaching Staff With Addition of Maurer, Gonzalez and Stankiewicz
10/13/2026 3:19:00 PM | Softball
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — UC Riverside softball head coach Brittney Matta has announced the additions of Brandon Maurer, Emily Gonzalez and Mia Stankiewicz to the Highlanders' coaching staff ahead of the 2027 season.
"I am extremely excited to welcome Brandon, Mia and Emily to UCR Softball," Matta said.
Maurer brings more than nine years of collegiate coaching experience, including stops at Cal State Fullerton, New Mexico and Fullerton College. Most recently, Maurer served as an assistant coach and assistant director of operations at Cal State Fullerton from 2023-24, helping guide the Titans to the 2024 Big West Championship. Under his direction, Cal State Fullerton led the conference in several offensive categories, including batting average and on-base percentage, while finishing among the nation's top 25 in batting average. He also contributed to the Titans' 2023 NCAA Regional appearance. Maurer previously served as an assistant coach at New Mexico and Fullerton College, where he helped guide the program to its first state championship appearance in 14 seasons. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton.
"Brandon brings a plethora of knowledge in a lot of areas and will immediately impact the team from a developmental standpoint," Matta said. "He is hard working and comes from a winning background."
Gonzalez joins the Highlanders following her collegiate career at Grand Canyon University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in business management in 2026. Since 2019, Gonzalez has provided individual and small-group softball instruction, emphasizing skill development and athlete mentorship. She also served as a volunteer softball coach with the Natasha Watley Foundation in 2024, helping young athletes develop their skills and confidence. Gonzalez previously attended Southern Utah University, where she earned an associate degree in business management.
"Emily will bring a piece to us that we have been looking for," Matta said. "She will relate well to the players but her goal oriented mindset and her All-American playing abilities will be great for our players to be around."
Stankiewicz joins UC Riverside with coaching experience at Colorado Christian University, Rising Softball and Pepperdine University. She served as a graduate assistant softball coach at Colorado Christian during the 2024-25 season, assisting with practice planning, player development and daily team operations. Stankiewicz has also coached club softball with Rising Softball in Phoenix, focusing on defensive fundamentals, situational hitting and team development. Additionally, she has served as a youth camp coach at Pepperdine, providing offensive and defensive instruction. A former NCAA Division I student-athlete at CSUN, Stankiewicz earned a bachelor's degree in marketing management from CSUN and a master's degree in business and project management from Colorado Christian.
"Mia has coaching in her blood," Matta said. "It was a hire that I am excited about because not only did she play for me, but her sister has played a huge part in my team's success in the past as well. She is a young coach that will certainly pave her own way in this career."
On looking into the upcoming season, Matta said, "UCR Softball is in good hands as we propel into 2027."
"I am extremely excited to welcome Brandon, Mia and Emily to UCR Softball," Matta said.
Maurer brings more than nine years of collegiate coaching experience, including stops at Cal State Fullerton, New Mexico and Fullerton College. Most recently, Maurer served as an assistant coach and assistant director of operations at Cal State Fullerton from 2023-24, helping guide the Titans to the 2024 Big West Championship. Under his direction, Cal State Fullerton led the conference in several offensive categories, including batting average and on-base percentage, while finishing among the nation's top 25 in batting average. He also contributed to the Titans' 2023 NCAA Regional appearance. Maurer previously served as an assistant coach at New Mexico and Fullerton College, where he helped guide the program to its first state championship appearance in 14 seasons. He earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in kinesiology from Cal State Fullerton.
"Brandon brings a plethora of knowledge in a lot of areas and will immediately impact the team from a developmental standpoint," Matta said. "He is hard working and comes from a winning background."
Gonzalez joins the Highlanders following her collegiate career at Grand Canyon University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in business management in 2026. Since 2019, Gonzalez has provided individual and small-group softball instruction, emphasizing skill development and athlete mentorship. She also served as a volunteer softball coach with the Natasha Watley Foundation in 2024, helping young athletes develop their skills and confidence. Gonzalez previously attended Southern Utah University, where she earned an associate degree in business management.
"Emily will bring a piece to us that we have been looking for," Matta said. "She will relate well to the players but her goal oriented mindset and her All-American playing abilities will be great for our players to be around."
Stankiewicz joins UC Riverside with coaching experience at Colorado Christian University, Rising Softball and Pepperdine University. She served as a graduate assistant softball coach at Colorado Christian during the 2024-25 season, assisting with practice planning, player development and daily team operations. Stankiewicz has also coached club softball with Rising Softball in Phoenix, focusing on defensive fundamentals, situational hitting and team development. Additionally, she has served as a youth camp coach at Pepperdine, providing offensive and defensive instruction. A former NCAA Division I student-athlete at CSUN, Stankiewicz earned a bachelor's degree in marketing management from CSUN and a master's degree in business and project management from Colorado Christian.
"Mia has coaching in her blood," Matta said. "It was a hire that I am excited about because not only did she play for me, but her sister has played a huge part in my team's success in the past as well. She is a young coach that will certainly pave her own way in this career."
On looking into the upcoming season, Matta said, "UCR Softball is in good hands as we propel into 2027."
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