The University of Minnesota Crookston has announced Head Softball Coach Travis Owen has stepped down from his position to pursue other career opportunities. The change is effective at the end of Owen’s contract.
This past season, the Golden Eagles finished 10-32 on the season and 6-22 in the NSIC.
In his three years at the helm of the Golden Eagles, Owen amassed 29 wins and in his first season in 2019, his Golden Eagles set the school record for most wins in a season with 13 victories. In 2019, the Golden Eagles also set the school record for most non-conference wins with 11.
Owen also helped develop two of the best pitchers in program history in Paige Pitlick and Katie Humhej. In two seasons under Owen, Pitlick struck out 161 hitters, including 61 in just 43.2 innings of work in 2020. In 2020, Pitlick had an ERA of 2.24, which is a school record in a season. Humhej, a transfer from LIU-Post for the 2021 season finished her career with a 6-14 record and a 3.13 ERA, and a school-record 131 strikeouts this season.
“We appreciate the job Coach Owen has done over the past three seasons,” Director of Athletics Stephanie Helgeson said. “He chose to pursue different opportunities at this time and we respect his decision. We will begin a search at the end of Coach Owen’s contract for the next head coach of the softball program.”
