Koczajowski named Associate AD at Coast Guard

Veteran softball coach recently got 500th win

Donna Koczajowski, who has served as the Coast Guard softball coach for the past 23 seasons and Senior Woman Administrator for the past six years, has been named Associate Athletic Director and Department Chair for Health & Physical Education at the academy.

"I am thrilled to announce Donna Koczajowski as the next Associate A.D./Department Chair for Health & Physical Education at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Donna emerged from a competitive national search as someone committed to all aspects of cadet development," said Dr. Dan Rose, Coast Guard Academy Director of Athletics. "Her many years as a successful coach, faculty member and Senior Woman Administrator have prepared her to assume this key leadership position within the Athletics Division. I look forward to working with Donna as we develop leaders of character for service in the world's best Coast Guard."

Success on the field

Koczajowski, who won her 500th career game during spring break this year, has a career record of 505-357-1 and led the Bears to the NCAA tournament for four straight years (20092012) including a pair of regional final appearances in 2009 and 2010.

She has been a member of the Health and Physical Education Faulty at the Academy as well as softball coach for the past 23 seasons. During her time at the academy, she served as Acting Health and Physical Education Section Chief during portions of swab summer.

Koczajowski just completed her sixth year serving as the Senior Woman Administrator while she also serves as the Director of Club Sports as a part of the Senior Leadership team in the Athletics division.

"I am thrilled and thankful for the opportunity to take the next step in my professional career as the Associate Athletic Director/Department Chair, Health and Physical Education. I want to personally thank ADM Kelly, Dr. Dan Rose, and the Search Committee for selecting me to this position," said Koczajowski in a press release.

In a five season stretch from 2009 to 2013, the Bears posted a record of 161-57-1 and won three NEWMAC regular season (2009, 2010, 2011) and three NEWMAC tournament titles (2010, 2011, 2012). Coach K was named NEWMAC Coach of the Year in 2010 and 2011.

In 2012, the Bears qualified for the NEWMAC tournament as the sixth and final seed and after being beat, the team had to win five games including three on the final day to claim its third straight championship.

In each of her first two seasons, she led the Bears to a then school record 26 wins and back-to-back trips to the ECAC Tournament and the program's first ever post-season win in 1998. The 2009 team won a school-record 39 games and finished 39-7-1 and 150-1 in conference play.

Koczajowski played softball at UMass Amherst and graduated with a B.S. in Exercise Science. She went on to earn a Master's in Exercise Science Physiology and Sport Psychology from Springfield College.