Monday, October 7, 2019
ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Central Washington University head softball coach Mike Larabee has resigned his position to join the coaching staff at the University of Maryland.
"We are extremely grateful for Coach Larabee and all he has done for Wildcat Softball over the past four years," CWU Director of Athletics Dr. Dennis Francois said. "The championships, records and accolades speak for themselves and confirm that under his tutelage our student-athletes achieved excellence in competition and in the classroom. We wish him and Dawn the very best as he continues his career at Maryland."
Coach Larabee has been the head softball coach at Central Washington University since the summer of 2015 after spending six seasons at the University of Arkansas.
"I had four of my most enjoyable years coaching college softball at CWU," Larabee said. "I want to thank Dennis Francois for the opportunity and hiring me back in the fall of 2015. I want to thank the administration, it's a great administration who are very supportive. I want to thank the assistant coaches and graduate assistants, there's no way we would have had the same success without them. I think the team at Central is one of the most talented we've had. You always want to leave the program better than when you got there, I think we did that."
In 2019, the Wildcats the Wildcats finished the regular season with a 30-16 overall record, putting together an outstanding conference record of 21-7 to win their four consecutive regular-season championships. Since 2010, this is the fourth time the team has notched 20 or more conference wins. The team was nearly unstoppable on the road, going 12-3. Larabee was named the GNAC Head Coach of the Year for the third time in four years. The Wildcats advanced to the NCAA West Regionals in La Jolla, California, their second trip in a four-year span.
The 2018 campaign saw Larabee's Wildcats capture their third-straight GNAC title after finishing 31-16 overall with a 19-9 mark in conference play. Three Wildcats earned unanimous selections to the First Team All-GNAC squad Savannah Egbert also earned NFCA First Team All-West Region honors and D2CCA All-West Region Second Team accolades.
In 2017, Larabee and the Wildcats followed up a historic 2016 season by winning its second-straight GNAC Title with a conference mark of 20-6, tying a GNAC Tournament era record for wins. After starting the 2017 season 7-5 the Wildcats ripped off 15 straight wins and went 20-1 in a thirty-day span. Larabee's efforts earned his second-consecutive GNAC Head Coach of the Year selection.
In his first season with the Wildcats in 2016, CWU enjoyed its greatest season to date, posting a 42-17 record after winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament championships, and advancing to the NCAA Division II West Super Regional. CWU captured the West Region Championship and advanced to the Super Regional. After his first year, Larabee was named GNAC Head Coach of the Year.
The Wildcats set 17 single-season records under Larabee, including recording 42 wins in 2016. In 2017, Central Washington led Division II in double plays turned with 31. During his four years with the Wildcats, 22 players earned GNAC honors, including Kailyn Campbell earning Player of the Year in 2017 and Kiana Wood earning Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and 2017.
"I'm excited to be close to my daughter," Larabee added. "My wife has family back there really close by. It was tough to leave, but for the first time in my coaching career, my wife is close to her family instead of following me. I'm excited about the opportunity to help turn around the Maryland softball program. I think we can do it quickly, I've known Scott for a long time. I'm excited to learn and grow as a coach, learn from him and get better as a coach."
Central Washington will begin an immediate search for a new head coach. Alyssa Reuble has been named the Interim Head Coach.