SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Stef Ewing has stepped down as head coach of the Cal State San Marcos softball team and has agreed to accept the same position at NCAA Division I University of Montana.
 
Ewing led CSUSM to three consecutive NCAA West Regional appearances, including the program's first NCAA Division II West Regional Championship and a World Series appearance in 2023. In the last three years, the Cougars have been crowned CCAA Regular-Season Champions (2022), NCAA Division II West Regional Champions (2023) and CCAA Tournament Champions (2024).
 
Ewing was hired in the fall of 2018 and has been CSUSM's winningest coach in terms of victories (138) and winning percentage (.576) in the NCAA Division II era (2016-present). She was named CCAA Coach of the Year in 2022 while her and her assistant coach A.J. Robinson were awarded 2023 NFCA West Region Coaching Staff of the Year. 
 
This past season, the Cougars claimed the program's first CCAA Tournament Title while hosting at CSUSM Softball Field. CSUSM outscored its opponents 17-9 at the tournament to earn the automatic bid to the NCAA Division II Tournament.
 
CSUSM entered the 2023 NCAA Tournament as the sixth seed with a 27-19 record. The Cougars went undefeated in West Regional play (5-0) by outscoring their opponents 38-5 to punch their ticket to the NCAA Division II World Series in Chattanooga, Tennesee.
 
With a 28-8 CCAA record, the Cougars tallied four sweeps, three series wins, a series split and had only one series loss in conference play to win the 2022 CCAA Regular-Season Title. Due to the COVID pandemic, CSUSM's previous complete season was in 2019 where the Cougars finished with a 14-31 overall record and placed second-to-last in the CCAA standings with a 10-28 conference record.
 
A national search for CSUSM's next head coach will begin immediately.

"Cal State San Marcos will always have a special place in my heart. It was a dream come true to become a head coach here. I want to thank the amazing young women and their amazing families who have come through this program and bleed blue for SM. It was a true honor and privilege to work with them day in and day out. Thank you for being RELENTLESS, and thank you for letting me be your coach. AJ Robinson, none of this happens without you. YOU ARE GOLD! A HUGE thank you to all the countless donors and supporters of the softball program, you made so many amazing memories possible. We could not have done it without you. To everyone at CSUSM, from the coaches and staff, to the team managers, and people that help clean the Clarke Field House and softball field, thank you for welcoming me and my family, for helping me grow as a person, coach and for teaching me so much. My door will always remain open. It was a great run, and now it's on to the next chapter. The greatness of CSUSM softball is just getting started. Go Cougars and finish what you started."
– Stef Ewing, Head Coach

"Coach Ewing changed our program from the moment she arrived on CSUSM's campus. Her positive energy, relentless spirit and love for her team were a reflection of her softball student-athletes. I am grateful to have worked alongside her during her time here at CSUSM. We we will all be rooting for her at Montana and wish her the utmost success!"
– Morod Shah, Interim Director of Athletics 

"Coach Ewing has transformed CSUSM Softball into an NCAA Division II national contender. Over four full seasons, Ewing has led the softball program with remarkable success. I am happy and proud of Coach Ewing for this new opportunity. The University of Montana is truly fortunate to have Coach Ewing as their new head coach. I have no doubt that she will continue to inspire and uplift her student athletes and everyone around her."
– Dr. Viridiana Diaz, Vice President for Student Affairs