Mike Bosch succeeded in achieving his 500th coaching win at Iowa Lakes on a cold, wet and windy afternoon April 6th.
The win came in the second game of a double header on the Laker softball field in Estherville against Dakota County Technical College. The Laker women won the first game 11-3 and claimed the 500th win for Bosch on a score of 12-0.
“I am so proud of the student athletes and what they have been able to accomplish in my time at Iowa Lakes,” Coach Bosch said after the game. “We have had the support of the community of Estherville and the administration of the college and that has helped us build a program that has been consistently successful.”
In Coach Bosch’s 13 years as head coach, his teams have produced 13 NJCAA All-Americans, 8 NJCAA Academic All-Americans and 18 NFCA All-Americans and have made it to the Region XI championship each of the last two years.
“Five hundred wins at Iowa Lakes in less than 13 years as head coach is an outstanding accomplishment for Mike,” said Athletics Director Troy Larson. “He recruits high-level student athletes and then coaches them ‘up.’”
He also praised Coach Bosch’s work ethic.
“Mike works hard and runs a first-class program as is evident by the successes Iowa Lakes has had,” Larson said.
The Laker women claimed the regional tournament title and advanced to the National Tournament in 2008.
In 2008 – following a 5th place finish in the national tournament – Bosch and his staff were named National ‘Coach of the Year’ by the National Fast Pitch Coaches Association. Bosch and his staff have been named Midwest Coaching Staff of the Year twice, in 2006 and in 2008. Currently, the Lakers are 36-4 and ranked 14th in NJCAA National polls.
After the victory, Larson presented Coach Bosch with a plaque commemorating his 500th win. Also, spectators and players were treated to cookies which were decorated with ‘500’ and Tuesday’s date.
