Melyssa Lombardi, Oregon softball assistant coaches receive raises after WCWS appearance

Melyssa Lombardi’s received a $30,000 raise this season as part of her recent four-year contract extension.

Lombardi, who led the Ducks back to the Women’s College World Series for the first time since 2018, signed a new guaranteed deal worth $2.25 million over the during of the contract, which was released to The Oregonian/OregonLive in response to a public records request.

She earned $385,000 in salary plus $155,000 in bonuses last season and was due $395,000 this season in what was the final year of her previous contract. Lombardi will now earn $425,000 this year, with annual increases of $12,500, and is eligible for a $100,000 retention bonus if still UO’s coach at the end of June 2029 and Oregon has made at least two NCAA Regional appearances and one Super Regional appearance over the next four seasons.

Her performances bonuses for winning the Big Ten regular season and conference tournament titles ($25,000 each), winning both in a season ($25,000) and postseason bonuses for reaching an NCAA Regional ($30,000), Super Regional ($50,000), the WCWS ($50,000), the championship series ($50,000) and winning the national championship ($250,000) are all unchanged. For the first time at UO, Lombardi can now receive a $25,000 bonus if the softball team’s Academic Progress Rate (APR) score in 985 or greater in a single year.

Lombardi’s buyout, which dropped to $25,000, is back up to $250,000 through June 2026 and drops by $50,000 for each of the following three years.

Assistant coaches Samantha Marder, Sydney Romero and Alyssa Palomino-Cardoza each received raises in their new one-year contracts.

Marder will earn $161,000, Romero will earn $135,000 and Palomino-Cardoza will earn $68,000 though June 2026. That’s up from $145,000, $120,000 and $55,000 last season, respectively.

Their performance bonuses are also unchanged, with each receiving $10,000 for winning the Big Ten regular season or tournament titles and $5,000 for second place, $10,000 if Oregon appears in the NCAA Tournament, $10,000 for advancing to a Super Regional, $10,000 for making the WCWS and $15,000 for winning the national championship.

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