After 19 seasons and 516 wins as the CMU softball coach, Kris Mort will retire at the end of this season to become Associate Athletic Director next fall. Mort came to Mesa State as a transfer student from Pacific Lutheran University in Washington. Mort grew up in Montana and attended PLU on a softball scholarship.

“I hated the rain, and I didn’t care for the bigger city,” Mort said. “I knew that if I was going to live anywhere in the country for school, I wanted to live somewhere more like home.”

Mort’s coach recommended Mesa State, and after taking a tour of the campus, she fell in love with Grand Junction and became a member of the Maverick softball team. During Mort’s time as a player, the team won a conference championship in 1992.

Mort graduated with a degree in Human Performance and Wellness with a K-12 education teaching certificate in 1993. After graduation, she coached soccer and softball at Grand Junction High School before taking the field as softball coach for CMU in 1994. Mort also taught kinesiology courses from 1998-2006 before transferring into administration.

During her time as softball coach, Mort transformed the CMU women’s softball team. Mort has an impressive record of 516-329, seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, three RMAC titles and is the longest tenured coach in CMU history.

Under Mort, CMU also broke the D2 home run record with 98 in 56 games in 2001.

However, one of her biggest accomplishments cannot be put into numbers – the impact she’s had on her players.

“It was a shock to find out she was retiring after this season,” senior Danielle Vallie said. “I definitely didn’t think it was going to be her last season my senior year. It brings a whole new perspective to this year’s team because it’s not only our last season as seniors, but hers as well.”

Beginning in fall 2012, Mort will become the Associate Athletic Director, and oversee eight varsity sports, six emerging sports, and four club sports. Mort will also manage eligibility for eight sports.

The biggest thing Mort will miss about coaching is the daily interaction with her players, and the “sights, smells, and sounds of the games.”

“It’s been a great ride. Thanks to all the players who put in the hours, all 19 years of players and to CMU for all the support.”

Mort and the Mavs open their season Feb. 17 as they take on Minnesota State University–Mankato in Pueblo.