Division II Concordia-Irvine head coach Crystal Rosenthal earned her 600th career win on Thursday.
The Eagles’ leader reached the milestone victory in a doubleheader sweep over Holy Names, recording 9-1 and 3-0 wins on the day.
As the veteran coach celebrates her milestone achievement, here are Five Fast Facts about her and her career to this point.
1. She is the winningest coach in CUI athletics history.
No other coach – in any sport – at Concordia-Irvine has ever reached 600 wins in their respective sport prior to Rosenthal’s achievement on Thursday. She earned her 500th career win almost exactly three years ago to the day, in April 2019.
2. In addition to coaching, she also serves as the CUI athletic director.
After spending three months as the program’s interim athletic director, Rosenthal was named to the full-time role in June 2020. She is a veteran of pulling double-duty in the athletic department, previously serving as Senior Woman Administrator and as Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
3. She successfully shepherded the CUI softball program through the transition from NAIA to Division II.
When the CUI athletics department made the move from NAIA to Division II in 2015, Rosenthal guided the softball program through the transition. A postseason stalwart while in NAIA, the Eagles didn’t miss a beat in D2, winning the PacWest Conference title just three years later.
4. She is a national champion.
The Super Regional round in 2019 is the furthest that the Eagles have advanced in the postseason since moving to D2, but while still at the NAIA level, the program reigned supreme in 2013. The Eagles were 52-3 overall that season, with an undefeated conference record and a 0.63 team ERA.
5. She is a program alumnus and Hall of Famer.
A two-time team captain during her playing career at CUI, Rosenthal ranks in the top ten in 15 separate statistical categories in the program’s record books. Her career stats included 151 hits and 81 RBIs. She was inducted into the CUI Hall of Fame in 2008.
