Mark Mattson is in his third season as head coach of the VCSU Softball team, taking charge of the Viking program with his spouse and associate head coach Barbi Mattson in July of 2019.
In the 2020 season, Valley City State posted a 6-12 overall record before the NAIA canceled spring sports due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Mattsons took over the VCSU program after coaching for seven seasons at Angelina College, an NJCAA Division I school in Lufkin, Texas. Under their leadership, Angelina College won its first ever national championship in 2014, and in 2019 the Roadrunners were national runner-up at the NJCAA Division I level.
Mark and Barbi also previously coached together at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D.Â
The Mattsons are no strangers to success on the national level after leading Angelina College to a national title in 2014. It was the first national title in Angelina College athletics history. As a result, the Mattsons were named the NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year at the NJCAA Division I level. In their last season at Angelina College, the Roadrunners took second in the nation and had six players sign to play NCAA Division I softball.
During their seven seasons at Angelina, the Roadrunners compiled a 253-131 record and made two appearances in the NJCAA National Tournament. Prior to that, the Mattsons started the softball program at North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., and led the Wildcats to two conference titles and three regional tournament appearances. The Mattsons have also expected academic success from their teams, which earned the Team Academic All-American Award three times at Angelina College and once at NDSCS.
A lifelong player himself, Mark was a member of the Men’s Fastpitch National Championship Team in 1998. Mark graduated from West Fargo High School (N.D.) and later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. He has been coaching softball since 1998, including stops at Middle Tennessee State University, Mayville State University, Adams State University and Wingate University.
The Mattsons have three children: sons Miken and Juco and daughter Marki.
