California State University of San Bernardino Athletics

Dee Payan became the CSUSB Softball head coach in January of 2019 and in her first season took CSUSB right back to the CCAA Tournament Championship Game. She led two All-CCAA selections including CCAA Player of the Year and First Team All-Region selection Morgan Ratliff.

Payan had just completed her second year on the Chico State coaching staff. As the lead assistant, the former Chico State star was instrumental in the Wildcat's 2018 West Regional and CCAA Championships. Payan was named, along with the rest of the Chico coaching staff, as the West Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
She is the eighth head coach in program history.  She is known as a passionate leader with the ability to develop a championship culture.
 
Prior to returning to Chico State, Payan was part of the UC San Diego coaching staff that guided the Tritons to the 2016 CCAA Championship. Payan spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons coaching at Fullerton College, where she began her college career, and logged three years as a coach for the Cal A's travel ball organization in Southern California along assisting at Cerritos High School in 2015.
 
Payan played at Chico State in 2011 and 2012, and in two years as a Wildcat, she batted .349, fifth best in the program's history, while twice earning All-CCAA honors. As a senior, Payan was named First Team All-West Region by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA).
  
Payan began her college career at Fullerton College, where she was a two-time All-Orange Empire Conference First Team selection and named First Team All-SoCal by the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) in 2010. She was also a standout at South El Monte High School, earning First Team All-Mission Valley League honors in 2007 and 2008 while being named All-Valley First Team by the San Gabriel Valley Tribune her senior year.
 
Payan received her bachelor's degree in kinesiology from Chico State in 2012. She earned her master's degree in physical education from Azusa Pacific University in 2015.