MAVERICK COACHING STAFF

Head Coach: Kris Mort

Coach Mort enters her 15th year at the helm of the Mesa State College softball program.

In her 14 years she has compiled a 414-242 overall record, five trips to the NCAA Regional Tournament (2002, 2001, 2000, 1998, and 1997), and one Elite Eight Appearance (2000).

Last season the team was crowned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular season champion posting a 27-16 overall record and a 25-10 league record. Coach Mort was named Co-Coach of the Year and boasted three All-RMAC First Team selections, including Co-Freshman of the Year.

In 2007 MSC lead the nation in homeruns with a 1.86/per game average for the fourth time in Coach Mort's 14 seasons belting out 80 in only 43 games. Mesa State broke the NCAA DII homerun record (77) in 2001 setting the new and current record at 98. In addition, MSC was 2nd in the nation in slugging percentage with a .600.

In 2006, MSC also led the nation in homeruns with 83 in 40 games. In addition to the team leader award in 2006, Rebecca McClelland also led the nation in homeruns in the individual player category hitting 19 for the Mavs.

The 2004 season saw the team finish 30-22 and post a 24-12 league record, finishing third in the conference standings. MSC went 3-2 in the RMAC post-season tournament, taking third place in the field of six.

In 2003 the Mavericks finished the regular season 31-17 overall, 24-10 in conference play. MSC finished third in regular season action and at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournament.

In 2000 Mort guided the Mavericks to its first; Elite Eight appearance, South Central Region title and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship. MSC finished ranked ninth in the final poll, the schools' highest finish.

She was selected RMAC CO-Coach of the Year in 2000 and was chosen along with assistant coaches; Misty Critton and Eddie Mort, as the Speedline National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) South Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year for NCAA Division II.
The teams´ 50-12 overall record in 2002 is the most victories in Coach Mort's 13 seasons as head coach. The 12 losses incurred in 2001 and 2000 are the fewest number of losses in her career.

Coach Mort has traveled the past several summers to Australia, Germany, Holland, Czech Republic, Aruba, Peru and Curacao to coach USA select teams that competed against the Dutch National Team and numerous European national teams. Several of her former players have represented the USA teams as well spent a season playing internationally after their careers at Mesa State, in the Czech Republic, Sweden, Belgium and Australia. In August 2006 she traveled to Peru to instruct clinics for the Peruvian-National Team, Junior National Team and Youth.

Coach Mort is a native of Billings, MT., having played two seasons of collegiate softball at Mesa State after transferring from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington.
The two-time all-state catcher at Billings Senior High School has devoted her life to teaching the game of softball. Mort started her own softball camps a year after graduating from high school. She has been involved with camps and clinics in five states; Alaska, Colorado, Montana, New York and Washington.

Her experience with summer camps was enhanced by current University of Tennessee head coach, and the Olympic Gold Medal winning coach (Atlanta 1996), Ralph Weekly. Mort began her coaching career with Coach Weekly as a head counselor and assistant director of hitting camps in Tacoma, Wash.

Throughout her college career at Mesa State she coached high school softball, soccer, and instructed as well as served on the Colorado Discover Ability Board of Directors for three years for disabled skiers.

Coach Mort wrapped up her fifth year on the NCAA Division II National Championship Committee as the Chair of the South Central Regional Advisory Committee. The committee produces weekly rankings for NCAA Division II Softball and selects teams for the NCAA Division II National Championships. Currently she is serving on the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll committee.

A graduate of Mesa State, she earned a bachelor's degree in Human Performance and Wellness along with a K-12 teaching certificate. She received a Master's of Art, Curriculum and Instruction through Colorado Christian University.

Kris has a nine-year old son, Gunnar.

The Mort File

Assistant Coach: Cindy Cohn

Coach Cohn enters her fourth season as a pitching coach for the Mavericks.

Cohn was a four-year starter for the University of Nebraska Kearney Lopers before continuing her softball career at the professional level. Cohn pitched for the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) Durham Dragons in Durham, NC for the 1997, 1998 seasons. Cohn was the winning pitcher for the first WPF All-star Game in 1998.

Cohn is a native of North Platte, Nebraska. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sports Administration.

Cohn is currently employed by the City of Grand Junction.

Assistant Coach: Jim Hazelhurst

Coach Hazelhurst begins his fourth season as a member of the coaching staff. He has coached at Grand Mesa Little League for 11 years and also coached and managed the Grand Junction Gems, a Junior competitive team for seven years.

Hazelhurst was on the Grand Mesa Little League Board as the Vice President of softball for eight years. He has helped with park improvements and the rebuilding of the softball field.

Jim is a native of Colorado, born in Denver. He and his wife, Lyn, have one son, Zachary, and two daughters, Brittany and Shayla, and one granddaughter. He has been employed at Leitner-Poma of America as a Mechanical Designer/Draftsman for the past 27 years.

Assistant Coach: Kevin Jannusch

Coach Jannusch enters his first season as a member of the Mesa State coaching staff. He brings with him over 13 years of coaching experience at the college and high school level.

Most recently an Assistant Coach at Evansville (Fall 2007), Coach Jannusch was the head softball coach at the University of Incarnate Word from 2002-2007. He guided the Cardinals to a 144-132 overall record including a 35-win season and a school record 46 wins (46-19) in 2006. The 2006 season marked the first conference championship for the school, a bid to the South Central Regional tournament and a runner-up finish.

Prior to his stint at Incarnate Word, Jannusch spent 1997-2000 at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX as an assistant. The team posted three winning seasons during that time including a 47-24 record in 1999.

Coach Jannusch's first college coaching job began at Texas State in 1996 as an assistant.

While in Texas, Coach Jannusch founded and was the head of the Hearts of Texas Girls Fastpitch Club which sent 12 teams to the Amateur Softball Association "A" National Championship Tournaments since 1996.

A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association since 2002, Coach Jannusch received the NFCA/Easton 100 Win Club Award in 2006.

A native of Maroa, Illinois, he attended Nebraska Wesleyan University and Millikin University where he lettered in football.