Mike Kazlausky

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Position: Head Coach Experience: 3rd Year College: USAFA, 1991

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Mike Kazlausky enters his third year as Air Force baseball head coach in 2013. Kazlausky was named head baseball coach on June 2, 2011, by Athletic Director Dr. Hans Mueh. Kazlausky retired from active duty, effective June 1, and his interim tag was lifted to official head coach status. Kazlausky signed a three-year contract through the 2014 season. A former player and Academy graduate, Kazlausky epitomizes what it means to don the Falcon baseball Blue and White.

Kazlausky, known as "Coach Kaz" is a 1991 Academy graduate and has logged six years as an assistant coach at the Academy. He is the first Academy graduate to become head baseball coach at Air Force and was the program's first military coach since 1988.

Kazlausky retired with the rank of major after 20 years of meritorious service with the U.S. Air Force. As the interim head coach in 2011, Kazlausky led the Falcons to a 19-36 overall record, leading the program to the most wins since 2002. The 19 wins were also the second-most in school history against Division I opponents and the most Division I wins by a first-year head coach at the Academy.

In 2012, Air Force went 14-39 with a young team that often times started as many as five freshmen in the field. The Falcons posted a 6.10 team ERA that was the second-lowest in the past 30 years. The Falcons featured two All-Mountain West selections in junior catcher Garrett Custons and sophomore designated hitter Seth Kline. The Falcons also posted their first winning season at home since 2002 and defeated a Big 12 school (Kansas) for the first time since 2001. In addition, Air Force set a school record with 46 sacrifice bunts.

In his first year, Kazlausky led Air Force to its first win over a Pac 10 school in 21 years and its first four-game sweep since 2003. The team fielded .960 to set a new school record. Sophomore Garrett Custons earned First-Team All-Mountain West honors by ranking in the conference top 10 in 11 categories. Sophomore right-hander Sean Carley posted one of the best seasons ever by a Falcon pitcher, earning Second-Team All-MW honors, the first Falcon pitcher to earn all-conference honors since 2002. Carley posted a 3.94 earned run average, the lowest at the Academy in 28 years. His 4.10 ERA in conference games set a school record in the Mountain West era. Air Force lowered its team ERA by over five runs a game from the 2010 season (11.31 to 6.09). The 6.09 team ERA was the lowest at Air Force in 29 years, dating back to 1982.

"This is my school and no one is more proud than I to have gone through the Academy and to have served for twenty years in the Air Force," Kazlausky said. "I look forward to having the opportunity to continue to represent our United States Air Force Academy! It is a tremendous honor and a privilege to be associated with the Academy and the Air Force as the Head Baseball Coach. I have a great understanding of all the pillars at the Academy, and I truly understand the mission of the Academy and the Air Force. Our job, as a staff, is to ensure success not only on the baseball field but in all facets of the Academy and that each young man is ready to lead our great country upon graduation!"

As one of the most inspirational and emotional players to ever wear the Air Force baseball uniform, Kazlausky came to USAFA baseball as a walk-on and started all four years. At the time of his graduation, he held eight career records and still ranks among the top six in nine of the 13 offensive categories. A two-time all-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selection, Kazlausky led the Falcons in batting in 1989 and 1991.

After a standout baseball career with the Falcons, "Kaz" spent three seasons from 1993 to 1995 as an assistant coach to former Falcon head coach Paul Mainieri, now the head skipper at LSU. During this time, the Falcons posted three consecutive winning seasons. The 1994 team led the nation in batting average, slugging percentage and triples. The 1995 team won 29 games, the second most in school history. After leaving the Academy in the summer of 1995, Kaz spent four years at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., as a pilot in the C-17 aircraft.

He later returned to the Academy in the fall of 2000 as a TG4 and T-41/C-150 evaluator pilot in the 94th Flying Training Squadron. In addition to his flight duties, he also served as the volunteer baseball coach for the Falcons as well as the Preparatory School head baseball coach. During his tenure, the 2002 Falcon team set the school record for most Div. I victories and two Falcon players were drafted into the minor leagues. Kazlausky then returned back to Charleston Air Force Base in 2004. He spent the next two and a half years as a C-17 pilot actively serving in the War on Terror, before returning to the Academy from 2006-2008 for this third tour as an assistant baseball coach. Kazlausky spent 2010 as an Air Officer Commanding (AOC) for cadet squadron 12 at the Academy.

In 2007, Kazlausky was inducted to the Lake County Hall of Fame in Lake County, Ill., for outstanding achievement. In 2008, he was inducted into the 14th Airlift Squadron Hall of Fame in Charleston, S.C..

Coach Kaz and his wife, Kris, live in Monument with their daughter, Sammy and son, Mick.