University of Northern Colorado Athletics
UNC Mourns Passing of Carl Iwasaki
2/8/2024 2:56:00 PM | Baseball
The University of Northern Colorado Department of Athletics was saddened to learn about the passing of former UNC head baseball coach Carl Iwasaki.
"I am deeply saddened to hear of Coach Carl Iwasaki's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shelley and the Iwasaki family, his friends, and former baseball student-athletes. Carl was a tremendous person who was passionate about UNC, the game of baseball, and the student-athletes he helped develop on the field and in life," said UNC Director of Athletics Darren Dunn. "He touched so many lives and made a tremendous impact on many people during his coaching career. Coach Carl will certainly be missed, but not forgotten."
Iwasaki was known for his generosity and sincere willingness to help people. An organ donor, Iwasaki's last act was donating his liver to save someone's life.
A UNC graduate, Iwasaki was the ninth head coach in program history and led the Bears from 2010 to 2022.
Over 12 seasons at the helm of the Blue and Gold, Iwasaki has amassed over 200 wins, making the Hawaii native the fourth-winningest coach in program history behind legendary coaches L.C. "Pete" Butler, Tom Petroff, and Terry Hensley. Throughout the totality of his career, Iwasaki piled up more than 300 victories.
Under his watch, dozens of student-athletes landed on All-Conference teams and earned All-Academic awards. He was integral in the recruitment and development of Jensen Park who earned both Great West Player of the Year in 2013 and WAC Player of the Year in 2015. Park would inevitably be drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2015.
Jensen was one of two of Iwasaki's players to be drafted with Jarod Berggren also taken by the Rockies in 2011. Nearly a dozen others went on to play professionally in the minor leagues during his tenure.
Iwasaki blazed the path for groundbreaking facility upgrades, moved UNC into a conference with an NCAA Automatic berth, and preached academic success. In fact, in his last season at the helm of the Bears, eight student-athletes landed on the Summit League Commissioner's Academic List.
"I am deeply saddened to hear of Coach Carl Iwasaki's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with Shelley and the Iwasaki family, his friends, and former baseball student-athletes. Carl was a tremendous person who was passionate about UNC, the game of baseball, and the student-athletes he helped develop on the field and in life," said UNC Director of Athletics Darren Dunn. "He touched so many lives and made a tremendous impact on many people during his coaching career. Coach Carl will certainly be missed, but not forgotten."
Iwasaki was known for his generosity and sincere willingness to help people. An organ donor, Iwasaki's last act was donating his liver to save someone's life.
A UNC graduate, Iwasaki was the ninth head coach in program history and led the Bears from 2010 to 2022.
Over 12 seasons at the helm of the Blue and Gold, Iwasaki has amassed over 200 wins, making the Hawaii native the fourth-winningest coach in program history behind legendary coaches L.C. "Pete" Butler, Tom Petroff, and Terry Hensley. Throughout the totality of his career, Iwasaki piled up more than 300 victories.
Under his watch, dozens of student-athletes landed on All-Conference teams and earned All-Academic awards. He was integral in the recruitment and development of Jensen Park who earned both Great West Player of the Year in 2013 and WAC Player of the Year in 2015. Park would inevitably be drafted by the Colorado Rockies in 2015.
Jensen was one of two of Iwasaki's players to be drafted with Jarod Berggren also taken by the Rockies in 2011. Nearly a dozen others went on to play professionally in the minor leagues during his tenure.
Iwasaki blazed the path for groundbreaking facility upgrades, moved UNC into a conference with an NCAA Automatic berth, and preached academic success. In fact, in his last season at the helm of the Bears, eight student-athletes landed on the Summit League Commissioner's Academic List.
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