Melyssa Lombardi’s journey with Oregon softball reached a high point this season, and no one was prouder than her husband, John Lombardi.
It took seven years, but Melyssa Lombardi has led the Oregon Ducks back to the Women’s College World Series, marking the most successful season of her time as head coach.
Now, with just a month left before entering the final year of her contract, her focus is on keeping the momentum going.
Lombardi praised the support and resources at Oregon, calling them “phenomenal,” but it’s not yet known if she’s had any discussions about a new contract with Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens or other top officials.
This season, she earned a total of $540,000—$385,000 in base salary and $155,000 in bonuses for Oregon’s accomplishments, including winning the Big Ten regular-season title and reaching the NCAA regional, super regional, and WCWS.
John Lombardi Celebrates Wife Melyssa’s Seventh Season As Oregon Returns To WCWS In A Milestone Year For The Family
Married since November 10, 2000, the couple, Melyssa and John, share one son, Gianni.
John, a 1991 graduate of Warwick Vets, was in the stands cheering as Oregon made its return to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in seven years.
Morning All! If you stayed up to watch some Women’s Softball College World Series, you saw some great extra inning games AND might have seen Warwick PAL alumn and Warwick Vets grad ‘91 John Lombardi in the stands. His wife is the talented Orgeon Coach Melyssa Lombardi. Warwick PAL nationwide! Congrats to Oregon Softball on their win last night.
City of Warwick, Police Athletic League
At the WCWS, John was interviewed by Nicole Mendes of Softball America.
Wearing a shirt that read “Version 7,” he explained it symbolized Melyssa’s seventh year coaching at Oregon.
Each season, they mark a new “version” to celebrate her growth and progress with the program.
John spoke about the strong support from Oregon fans, noting how visible and dedicated the community has been throughout the season.
No matter where the team played, the Ducks were backed by crowds filled with green and yellow.
He also reflected on Melyssa’s coaching path, from her long career as an assistant at Oklahoma under legendary coach Patty Gasso to her current role as head coach at Oregon.
He expressed how meaningful it’s been to watch her apply what she’s learned and build her legacy.
Oregon’s opening game at the WCWS was a highly anticipated matchup against UCLA—two storied programs that were once part of the Pac-12.
For the Lombardi family, it marked another proud moment in a season full of milestones.
Even, Allison Fanning, Assistant Director of Softball, praised John Lombardi for his support, saying he’s “the man” for being there and cheering on his wife, Melyssa.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Melyssa Lombardi became the head coach of the Oregon softball team on July 9, 2018, taking over after Mike White left to coach at Texas.
- During the 2024–2025 season, Oregon joined the Big Ten Conference, along with Washington and UCLA, after leaving the Pac-12.
- Lombardi led the team to an impressive 19-3 record in conference play, helping Oregon win the Big Ten regular-season championship.
