COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Colorado Springs Head Baseball Coach Dave Hajek has announced his retirement, concluding a remarkable tenure that helped establish and elevate the Mountain Lions baseball program.
 
"I would like to thank former UCCS Athletic Director Steve Kirkham, former Chancellor Pam Shockley-Zalabak and current Executive Director of Athletics Nathan Gibson for this amazing opportunity to start an NCAA baseball program in my hometown of Colorado Springs," said Hajek.  "I am truly honored to be the first head baseball coach at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs."
 
Hajek, who will officially retire this summer, is the founding head coach of UCCS baseball.  He was hired in 2015 to build the program from its inception and guided the Mountain Lions through their inaugural season in 2017. In their first season playing at NCAA Division II baseball, Hajek and the Mountain Lions started the program with a 22-27 record.  In the past 10 years, UCCS has recorded five winning seasons. 
 
"First, I would like to congratulate Coach Hajek on his retirement," said Gibson.  "His legacy is cemented as the first and only Head Baseball Coach we've known.  We started this program together, built Mountain Lion Park together, shared so many great memories and it has been with great pride to see Dave build Mountain Lion Baseball to RMAC and National prominence.  I know Dave's legacy will carry on throughout this program and we will continue to build on the foundation he has set!  Thank you for your great work, who you are as a person and coach and for what you've meant to me and UCCS!"
 
Under Hajek's leadership, the Mountain Lions achieved numerous program milestones, highlighted by the 2021 season in which UCCS captured its first Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournament Championship and earned its first NCAA Regional appearance. The team posted a program-best 30-13 record that season, along with a conference-best 22-10 mark. The Mountain Lions went 4-1 in the conference tournament, earning an automatic bid to the NCAA postseason with an 18-9 win over top-seed Colorado Mesa University in the tournament championship game. 
 
Hajek's impact extended beyond wins and losses. He developed multiple All-RMAC performers, All-Americans, and academic honorees, while consistently fielding teams recognized for offensive production and defensive consistency. His squads set program records in key statistical categories, including runs, hits, and batting average during the 2022 campaign.  Under his tenure, five Mountain Lions have earned All-America recognition and four have been named Academic All-America.  He has coached a RMAC Freshman of the Year and RMAC Freshman Pitcher of the Year, and more than two dozen All-RMAC performers.
 
"My beloved wife, Heather and I have enjoyed so many memorable experiences and people over the last decade," added Hajek.  "And most of all, thank you to all of the young men who have come through this program and University, that have had a tremendous impact on my baseball life."
 
In 10 years at the helm of the UCCS baseball program, Hajek owns a 229-224 (.506) career record, which includes a sweep over Colorado School of Mines this past weekend.  The Mountain Lions, who clinched a spot in the RMAC Tournament this past weekend, are currently sitting in third place in the league standings with an 18-5-1 RMAC record.  With two weekends left in the regular season, the Mountain Lions are 29-12-1 overall and are one win away from tying the school record for most wins in a season, 30, set in 2021.
 
A national search for the next head coach will begin in the near future.
 
 
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As a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs competes in 14 varsity sports in NCAA Division II intercollegiate athletics.