Mallori Rossi is entering her third season at the helm of the Taft College Volleyball Program. In her first season in 2021, she led the team to a third-place finish in the Central Valley Conference with a record of 13-8 overall and 12-4 in conference. Six Cougars were tabbed to the All-Conference Team (3 first team selections, 1 second team selection, and 2 honorable mentions).

In the fall of 2022, Rossi coached the team to its first playoff appearance in nine years. The team clinched its first post season win in 16 years, but was knocked out of the second round by a team who eventually made it to the Final Four of the State Championships. The volleyball program finished as one of the top teams in the North Division of the CCCAA. Nine Cougars were named to the All-Conference Teams (3 first team selections, 2 second team selections, and 4 honorable mentions). In addition, Kailee Wakatake was named Libero of the Year. The team ended season with a record of 17-10 overall and 12-4 in conference.

"My goal for the Taft College Volleyball Program is to not only rise to the top of our conference but also graduate young women who excel in the classroom and become positive role models within the community," said Rossi. "I believe that integrating my vision along with the impressive plans and strong values of the athletic department and college will make for a bright future."

Prior to arriving at Taft College, Rossi was the Head Volleyball Coach at Stanislaus State for six years and led the team to its first ever post-season appearance in the program’s history. Under Rossi’s tenure, the Warriors made it to post-season 4 of the 5 years (her sixth year was during COVID and the team did not have a competitive season). During Rossi’s tenure at Stanislaus State, she rebuilt a program that was 2-24 prior to her arrival, and turned it into one of the most prestigious Division II Volleyball programs. While leading the Warriors, Rossi helped her team defeat multiple nationally ranked teams including the No. 1 team in the country, Cal State San Bernardino, and broke numerous team and individual records.

While at Stanislaus State, Rossi coached three All-Americans (the only three All-Americans in program history), 11 All Conference Selections, 2 CCAA All Tournament Team selections, 1 CCAA Scholar Athlete of the Year, 32 CCAA All-Academic selections, 5 AVCA Team Academic Awards, 2 Female Scholar Athletes of the Year, and 2 Female Athletes of the Year.

Before making the move to Stanislaus State, Rossi was the First Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Fresno State. She was regarded as one of the most respected assistant coaches in the Mountain West Conference during her four seasons on the Fresno State staff. As the team's recruiting coordinator, Rossi worked with the Bulldogs' outside hitters and defensive specialists. Her other duties include scouting, community service, summer camp coordination, travel operations, equipment, and academic support. While at Fresno State, Rossi helped develop 8 All-Conference Players, 1 Academic All-American, and 3 Academic All-District selections. She also helped the 2011 team to the semifinals of the WAC Tournament and a post season appearance in the program’s first two years as a part of the Mountain West Conference.

A native of Bakersfield, Rossi previously played professionally in the Premier Volleyball League and oversees in Greece. In 2011, she led her team, Olympiacos, in capturing the Greek Cup Gold Medal. Rossi was also invited to play in the United States Volleyball Open National Championships in Phoenix, Ariz., where she and her team took home the silver medal.

Rossi had a standout career as a NCAA Division I student-athlete. She started her collegiate playing career at the University of Colorado where she was one of the top offensive threats for the Buffaloes. Most notably, Rossi and the CU Buffaloes toppled No. 1 Nebraska, the eventual 2006 NCAA national champion, her freshman season. Rossi recorded 16 kills and three blocks in the five-set thriller that handed the Huskers National Championship Team its only loss of their 33-1 campaign. In 2006, her match-high 11 kills launched the Buffs to a sweep of No. 11 California, and her 13 kills, eight digs and four aces sparked an NCAA First-Round Tournament victory over No. 19 New Mexico State. Rossi and her team finished 19th in the country that season.

Rossi then transferred to the University of the Pacific for her junior and senior year, where she was a two-time first-team All-Big West Conference outside hitter. As a senior at Pacific, Rossi sparked the Tigers past No. 20 Long Beach State with a .400 hitting percentage and an impressive double-double of 21 kills and 15 digs. In her junior year, Rossi led Pacific to a sweep of then-No. 22 LBSU, when she posted 13 kills and a .409 hitting percentage.

Overall, Rossi finished with 678 kills in her two seasons at University of Colorado and 694 kills in her two seasons at Pacific for a total of 1,372 kills in her collegiate career.

Rossi also earned many academic awards while at Pacific. A two-time Academic All-Big West Team honoree, she was selected as Senior of the Year for the Health, Exercise, and Sport Sciences Department, and graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude. She then served as a volunteer assistant coach at Pacific while completing coursework toward her Masters of Arts in Health and Exercise Sciences.

As a prep standout from Bakersfield's Foothill High School, Rossi was one of PrepVolleyball.com's Top 250 players in the nation. The Bakersfield Californian Kern County Player of the Year led the county in kills, digs and aces all four years in high school and graduated from Foothill as the school's all-time kills leader with 2,225. She was a four-time All-Southeast Yosemite League selection, a three-time First-Team All-Area pick and was voted team MVP three times. In basketball, Rossi was also a four-time all-league selection, she was the league’s co-MVP, and picked as a First-Team All-Area selection. Having won six league titles in track and field (three times in the shot put, twice in the long jump and once in the pole vault), she was a three-time league Track & Field Female Athlete of the Year.

She was selected as the CIF Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and a recipient of the Jim Tyack Award as Kern County’s Most Outstanding Athlete, was named Foothill High School’s Most Outstanding Athlete, US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award, and the U.S. Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award.

Mallori married Joey Rossi, Director of Sport Performance at California State University Bakersfield. They have two sons.