University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Ben Garcia Named Head Coach for @BearsSoftball
9/13/2018 2:31:00 PM | Softball
Garcia arrives at UNC after being the head coach at Colorado Mesa
GREELEY, Colo.- Northern Colorado Athletics announced the hiring of Ben Garcia as head softball coach. Garcia arrives at UNC after coaching the past four season at Colorado Mesa University, where he has led the Mavericks to three straight Division II NCAA Tournament appearances.
"I'm really excited to be joining the UNC softball program. I want to thank Darren Dunn and Sarah Adams for giving me the opportunity to take this team to the next level," Garcia said. "I want to bring a championship to UNC."
Under Garcia's leadership, CMU compiled a 169-49 overall record and a 131-21 record in RMAC games. The Mavericks have won three consecutive RMAC regular season titles and two straight tournament titles. Garcia earned RMAC Coach of the Year honors for the 2018 and 2016 seasons.
"We are thrilled to have Ben and his wife Beth as a part of the Bear family," said UNC athletic director Darren Dunn. "Ben is a proven winner at every level and is a well-connected and respected coach in Colorado and the southwest region. Also, we want to thank interim coach Nicole Trimboli who did a great job leading our program through the transition."
This past season, the Mavericks finished with a 48-5 overall record and held the No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Poll for seven consecutive weeks. In 2017, CMU had a 48-8 record and had 11 players earn All-RMAC honors, along with two players earning All-America honors. The team also produced the RMAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. The Mavericks advanced to the semi-finals of the South Central Regional Championships in 2016. The team also had the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and 10 players on the All-RMAC team.
"It was a great experience coaching at CMU. The school and the administration were great to work with," Garcia added about his time in Grand Junction. Â
Before his four-year tenure at CMU, Garcia was the head coach at Otero Junior College for three seasons. Garcia had a 143-42 mark at Otero and won the Region IX Championship in 2013.
Garcia was also highly successful at the high school ranks winning over 400 games in 21 years as head coach at Pueblo East. He led the Eagles to 19 state tournament appearances, including the state title in 2012 and four runner-up appearances. He was named the Colorado Coach of the Year in 2012.Â
Ben and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Aubrie and Amanda.
UNC softball is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. The team won a program-best 28 games since moving to Division 1. The Bears also earned their first wins in the Big Sky Tournament and qualified for the National Invitational Softball Tournament. UNC returns nine players from the 2018 season. The group includes All-Big Sky first team selection Jordyn Wiatrak and second team selection Valerie Vidal.
To stay up to date with Northern Colorado softball visit UNCBears.com or follow the team on Twitter with @BearsSoftball.
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"I'm really excited to be joining the UNC softball program. I want to thank Darren Dunn and Sarah Adams for giving me the opportunity to take this team to the next level," Garcia said. "I want to bring a championship to UNC."
Under Garcia's leadership, CMU compiled a 169-49 overall record and a 131-21 record in RMAC games. The Mavericks have won three consecutive RMAC regular season titles and two straight tournament titles. Garcia earned RMAC Coach of the Year honors for the 2018 and 2016 seasons.
"We are thrilled to have Ben and his wife Beth as a part of the Bear family," said UNC athletic director Darren Dunn. "Ben is a proven winner at every level and is a well-connected and respected coach in Colorado and the southwest region. Also, we want to thank interim coach Nicole Trimboli who did a great job leading our program through the transition."
This past season, the Mavericks finished with a 48-5 overall record and held the No. 1 ranking in the NFCA Poll for seven consecutive weeks. In 2017, CMU had a 48-8 record and had 11 players earn All-RMAC honors, along with two players earning All-America honors. The team also produced the RMAC Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and Freshman of the Year. The Mavericks advanced to the semi-finals of the South Central Regional Championships in 2016. The team also had the RMAC Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and 10 players on the All-RMAC team.
"It was a great experience coaching at CMU. The school and the administration were great to work with," Garcia added about his time in Grand Junction. Â
Before his four-year tenure at CMU, Garcia was the head coach at Otero Junior College for three seasons. Garcia had a 143-42 mark at Otero and won the Region IX Championship in 2013.
Garcia was also highly successful at the high school ranks winning over 400 games in 21 years as head coach at Pueblo East. He led the Eagles to 19 state tournament appearances, including the state title in 2012 and four runner-up appearances. He was named the Colorado Coach of the Year in 2012.Â
Ben and his wife, Beth, have two daughters, Aubrie and Amanda.
UNC softball is coming off one of the most successful seasons in program history. The team won a program-best 28 games since moving to Division 1. The Bears also earned their first wins in the Big Sky Tournament and qualified for the National Invitational Softball Tournament. UNC returns nine players from the 2018 season. The group includes All-Big Sky first team selection Jordyn Wiatrak and second team selection Valerie Vidal.
To stay up to date with Northern Colorado softball visit UNCBears.com or follow the team on Twitter with @BearsSoftball.
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| Year | Overall | RMAC | Finish | Postseason |
| 2018 | 48-5 | 33-3 | 1st* | NCAA Regionals |
| 2017 | 48-8 | 35-4 | 1st* | NCAA Regionals |
| 2016 | 40-13 | 35-3 | 1st | NCAA Regionals |
| 2015 | 33-23 | 28-11 | 2nd | |
| TOTAL (4 Seasons) | 169-49 | 131-21 |
Players Mentioned
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