GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— After serving as an assistant coach for the past six seasons, including the last two in a full-time role, Erik Kozel has been promoted to the role of interim head coach for the Colorado Mesa University Softball program, it was announced Monday by co-athletic directors Kris Mort and Bryan Rooks.
 
Kozel, a member of the baseball team at CMU in 2012 and 2013, replaces head coach Ben Garcia, who recently departed for a similar role at Division I University of Northern Colorado, and will guide the team for upcoming 2019 season.
 
In the two years with Kozel as a full-time assistant, the Mavericks have posted combined a 96-13 (.881) record, winning both the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles in both years.
 
The Mavericks also won RMAC titles in 2014 and 2016 when Kozel was on the coaching staff.
 
"Coach Kozel was a natural immediate replacement for Coach Garcia given that he has been on staff and has recruited the current student-athletes," Mort said.
 
"We are confident in his abilities to assume the duties of head coach given his success as both a player and member of the coaching staff that has provided great leadership for our program, which has had success on the softball diamond.
 
 "It is sad to see such a great coach and mentor leave Colorado Mesa University Softball," Kozel said about Garcia. 
 
"I have no doubt Coach Garcia will definitely find success on his new adventures at UNC. As saddened as we all are, we're happy for him and his family and wish them the best of luck."  
 
In his time as an assistant, Kozel has worked primarily with the catchers and outfielders and served as the team's hitting coach while being heavily involved in recruiting.
 
That coaching certainly payed off as the Mavericks set numerous Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference records while earning a No. 1 spot in the national rankings for seven straight weeks in 2018 after getting out to 37-0 start.  They also won the NCAA Division II team statistical titles for batting average (.398), doubles (2.55 per game) and scored 508 runs, the most of any collegiate softball team in the country (all divisions).
 
"I am excited to step in and keep the ball rolling right where we left off. I am lucky to have inherited a stellar group of young women who know what the expectations are that go along with representing the Colorado Mesa Softball culture."
 
After graduating from CMU in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in health and fitness promotion, Kozel played three seasons of independent professional baseball.
 
He spent the 2013 and 2014 seasons in the Pecos League with the Taos Blizzard and Santa Fe Fuego. He led the Fuego to the 2014 Pecos League Championship and was named league MVP, MVP of the championship series and was the starting catcher in the 2014 Pecos League All-Star Game.

Kozel spent the 2015 season in the Canadian-American League of Professional Baseball as an outfielder with the Garden State Grays.
 
While a student-athlete at CMU, Kozel earned all-region honors as catcher during his senior season.
 
Prior to playing at CMU he led San Joaquin Delta College to the 2011 California Junior College State Championship.