George Washington University Athletics
GW Names Steve Mrowka Head Baseball Coach
8/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Aug. 5, 2004
WASHINGTON, DC -- Steve Mrowka has been hired as the new baseball coach at The George Washington University, Senior Associate Director of Athletics Mary Jo Warner has announced. Mrowka replaces former coach Tom Walter who left in July for a similar position at the University of New Orleans. Mrowka (pronounced "MROW-kah") comes to GW after 11 years at Georgia College & State University, a NCAA Division II program located in Milledgeville, GA. At GC&SU, Mrowka posted a 407-231-2 career record (.638 winning percentage). He guided the Bobcats to the NCAA Division II Tournament five times (1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002). "I'm very excited to have the opportunity to coach baseball at an outstanding university like George Washington," Mrowka said. "I am eager to work with the competitive, high-quality student-athletes at GW and am looking forward to taking on the challenges at GW and in the Atlantic 10 Conference." "Steve is an outstanding coach," Warner said. "We're very happy to have him become a part of the GW athletics family." He took over the Georgia College baseball program in October, 1993 after serving the previous three years as an assistant under head coach John Kurtz. After only one season as head coach, he moved into second place, behind Kurtz, in career coaching victories at GC&SU. As the interim head baseball coach in 1994, Mrowka's team finished with a 40-18-1 (.686) record and ended the season 14th in the Div. II baseball poll. That season marked the first time in eight years that GC&SU had reached the 40-win plateau. Also, it was the first time the program had ever been ranked in the NCAA II Top 20 at season's end. Mrowka was unanimously selected as the 1994 Peach Belt Conference Coach of the Year. Mrowka's Bobcats won the 1995 NCAA II South Atlantic Regional tournament and advanced to the NCAA II College World Series in Montgomery, AL, where the team posted a record of 3-1. The loss came in the NCAA II National Championship game where the team lost to Florida Southern. His 1995 team finished the season ranked second in NCAA II baseball with an overall record of 49-19-1 (.717). As a result, Mrowka was selected as the 1995 South Atlantic `Region Coach of the Year,' and the Atlanta Dugout Club `Coach of the Year.' In 1996, GC&SU fought through some injuries and battled to a 35-23 record and finished the season ranked 30th in the nation. In 1997, Mrowka brought his team back to national recognition and the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament before falling to Kennesaw State in the championship round. The team finished with a 41-24 record and No. 7 final national ranking. After a 1-8 start, Mrowka's team rallied to win 40 of its last 56 games. Mrowka brought another first to GC&SU when the Bobcats earned a No. 1 national ranking for the first time in school history early in the 1998 season. The Bobcats finished the year with a 31-26 record. The Bobcats were also nationally ranked most of the 1999 season and ended the year ranked No. 30 with a 34-21 overall record. In 2000, the Bobcats returned to the NCAA Regional Tournament and fell to North Florida in the championship game. GC&SU was 39-20 and was ranked every week during the season, finishing with a No. 6 final ranking. In 2001, the Bobcats made another trip to the NCAA Regional and finished with a No. 10 national ranking after posting a 41-18 record. The 2002 Bobcats advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year and finished with a 36-18 overall record and No. 14 final ranking. GC&SU started the season 15-0 and was ranked No. 1 for two straight weeks. In 2003, GC&SU went 29-22 and was ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation. The 2004 Bobcats were 32-22 and were ranked as high as No. 4 in the nation. Mrowka attended Bates College in Lewiston, ME, where he was a varsity letterman in football, ice hockey, and baseball. He transferred a year later to Polk Community College in Winter Haven, FL, where he earned an associates degree and was an all-state shortstop. Following junior college, Mrowka enrolled at the University of North Carolina where he was a two-year starter in the Tar Heel's infield and earned a bachelor's degree in Physical Education. After playing in the prestigious Cape Cod and Alaska Baseball Leagues, he was a ninth round draft choice of the Boston Red Sox in 1985. Mrowka was in spring training with the Houston Astros when an elbow injury ended his baseball career. Mrowka spent two years at the University of Georgia where he earned a M.Ed. in Sport Management. In the summer of 1992, he managed the Waynesboro (VA) Generals of the Valley Baseball League into the league playoffs and finished the season in third place. Over the next six summers he managed the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League (where he was an all-star outfielder in 1985). In the summer of 1993, his team finished the season with a 25-19 record, the most victories in the league. During his summer coaching stints, he has recruited and coached eight first-round and two second-round major league draft selections. Two of his players, Pat Burrell (Miami) and Kris Benson (Clemson), were the overall number one draft choices in their respective drafts. George Washington (41-18, 19-5 A-10) won the 2004 Atlantic 10 Conference West Division and was among the final four teams in the 2004 Conference Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
