Colorado State University Athletics
Yori steps down as CSU's head softball coach
8/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 19, 2010
By Danny Mattie
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Director of Athletics Paul Kowaczyk announced Thursday evening that Mary Yori has resigned her post as head softball coach of the CSU Rams, effective Friday. The announcement comes after Yori indicated to CSU administrators this week that she intended to step down to pursue other career opportunities.
"We are very grateful to Mary for her service as the softball coach at CSU over the past 10 seasons," said Kowalczyk. "She led CSU through one of the most successful eras in program history, and we wish her well in all future endeavors."
Yori leaves Colorado State as the program's all-time winningest coach. She amassed a record of 276-242 during her tenure in Fort Collins. Yori earned two Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year awards and guided the Rams to the 2003 MWC tournament title and the 2004 regular-season championship. Overall in 21 seasons as a head coach Yori was 735-400 (.648).
"I am retiring from coaching softball at Colorado State and I have accepted a position outside of college athletics and will be relocating to Omaha, Neb," said Yori. "This is the right point for me personally and professionally to move away from coaching. This is a positive and welcome change that will allow me the flexibility to pursue other professional interests, as well as afford me the opportunity to be much closer in proximity to many members of my immediate family."
"I am proud and satisfied with what I was able to accomplish during my time at CSU," continued Yori. "I have worked with many outstanding student-athletes and it has been a pleasure watching them grow as students, athletes and in their personal lives. I have been fortunate to have had some outstanding assistant coaches. I would like to thank my assistants Dede Pendleton and Tonja Hadley for their expertise, dedication and support in helping to elevate this program to where it is today."
"I am excited about the new business opportunity that has presented itself and I am happy to be getting the opportunity to return to Omaha, where I lived for 20 years before coming to Colorado State."
Prior to coming to Fort Collins, Yori began her coaching career in Omaha as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Creighton. She was hired at Colorado State in 2001 after 10 seasons as the head coach at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Yori has been inducted into both the UNO (2007) and Creighton (1992) halls of fame.
An announcement regarding Yori's replacement is expected to be made Friday at 12 p.m. MT.
