HONOLULU—University of Hawai'i softball head coach Panita Thanatharn announced the hiring of pitching coach Mariah Ramirez and assistant coach Alyssa Gonzalez as members to her inaugural staff.
 
Ramirez comes to Hawai'i after serving eight seasons as the Long Beach State pitching coach where she served alongside Thanatharn from 2018-2025. Ramirez helped lead The Beach to a pair of Big West titles in 2021 and '23 and three NCAA Regional appearances (2018, '21, and '23). This past season, Ramirez helped LBSU lead the Big West with a team ERA of 3.47. Prior to her stint at Long Beach State, Ramirez was an assistant coach at Cal State Dominguez Hills from 2015-17
 
Ramirez played for Utah from 2012-'15. She was a member of the Utes' pitching staff for four seasons while on offense, she saw time as a solid hitter. Ramirez earned second team NFCA All-Region honors as a junior and served as the Utes' NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) Council Member during her time at Utah.


Coach "Gonzo" began her collegiate career as a player at Ole Miss. As a true freshman, she played in 56 games with 43 starts splitting time between being the designated player and playing first base. She hit .280 with five doubles, four home runs and 32 RBI.
 
Gonzalez played her final three seasons at Long Beach State, where she is the career record holder with a .366 batting average. She amassed 74 runs scored, 126 hits, 22 doubles two triples, 13 home runs, 89 RBI and a career slugging percentage of .554. She was a true utility player, playing in the outfield, at first base and as the DP. As a senior, she recorded the Beach's single-season batting average record hitting .409 in 2021. Gonzalez was a two-time NFCA All-Region honoree and two-time All-Big West awardee.
 
Following her stellar collegiate career, Gonzalez has spent the last four years honing her coaching skills. She has served as the camp director for the Premier Girls Fastpitch program where she provided leadership and operational oversight for nationwide softball camps. She has spent the last two seasons as a coach with the BSC Bengals club team and last year was the La Habra High School head coach.

"I'm thrilled to officially welcome Maya and Gonzo to our coaching staff!" exclaimed Thanatharn. "I've had the privilege of working alongside Maya for the past eight years. She is one of the most hard-working, loyal, and knowledgeable individuals I know. Beyond her deep understanding of the game, Maya is an exceptional person who truly invests in developing players both on and off the field. She will lead our pitching staff with consistency, drive, and competitiveness. Maya is a proven winner, a positive role model, and a true player's coach—our team is going to love her just as much as I do!"
"It's especially meaningful to welcome Gonzo to our coaching staff—not only as a talented coach but also as one of my former players," states Thanatharn. "She was one of the most well-liked teammates during her playing days, and that same energy, leadership, and connection she had with the softball community is exactly what she will bring into our program. Gonzo is a true leader with a contagious passion and a sharp, thoughtful approach to developing student-athletes. Her impact will be felt across all areas of our program, and I'm especially excited for her to take the lead with our offense. Her energy and expertise are going to be a tremendous asset, and I can't wait for our players to start working with her.