Air Force Baseball Head Coach Mike Kazlausky Promoted to Director of Leadership and Institutional Strategy
7/15/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – After more than three decades of service to Air Force baseball, head coach Mike Kazlausky has announced his retirement from coaching, effective immediately, and is being promoted to a leadership position within USAFA's athletic department as the Director of Leadership and Institutional Strategy.
"It is not with a heavy heart, regret, or sadness that I officially step down as the head coach of America's Team at our United States Air Force Academy, it is with overwhelming gratitude," expressed Kazlausky. "For 16 years as the head baseball coach, and after more than thirty years serving this program, I have had the privilege of living a dream few people ever experience. Every day I walked onto the field representing something far greater than baseball, it was the honor of wearing Air Force across my chest and standing beside young men who chose a life of service before they ever played a game."
Few individuals have shaped Air Force baseball quite like Kazlausky. Over 36 years, he served the Academy as a student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach, and Air Force officer, leaving an enduring legacy defined by excellence, leadership, and service.
His Air Force journey began in 1988 as a walk-on who developed into one of the program's most accomplished players. A four-year starter, two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and four-year letterwinner, Kazlausky led the Falcons in batting in 1989 and 1991. He still holds three program records and ranks among the top 10 in 14 career and single-season statistical categories.
Kazlausky said, "I will forever be thankful to our Academy for giving me the opportunity to become a cadet in 1987, that moment changed the direction of my life and my family's forever."
After graduating in 1991, Kazlausky returned to the Academy as an assistant coach under Paul Mainieri from 1993-95, helping guide the Falcons to three consecutive winning seasons. The 1994 squad led the nation in batting average, slugging percentage, and triples, while the 1995 team won 29 games, the second-highest total in program history at the time.
Following that coaching stint, Kazlausky continued his commitment to the Air Force as a C-17 pilot stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. He later returned to the Academy in 2000 as a TG-4 and T-41/C-150 evaluator pilot with the 94th Flying Training Squadron, while simultaneously serving as the Falcons' volunteer assistant coach and head coach of the Air Force Preparatory School baseball team. His impact was immediate as the 2002 Falcons established a then-school record for Division I victories, and two players were selected in the MLB Draft.
After another assignment to Charleston, where he flew missions in support of the Global War on Terror, Kazlausky made his return to the Academy in 2006 for a third stint as an assistant coach before serving as an Air Officer Commanding for cadet squadron 12 in 2010.
"I have only worn two uniforms in my life, our nation's uniform and our Air Force baseball uniform," voiced Kazlausky. "Those uniforms are woven into my identity. I may be stepping away from the dugout but I will never stop wearing them in my heart."
Named head coach prior to the 2011 season, Kazlausky went on to become the longest-tenured and winningest coach in Air Force baseball history, recording 365 victories across 16 seasons.
His teams qualified for the Mountain West Championships eight times, highlighted by the program's 2022 Mountain West Tournament title that secured Air Force's first NCAA Regional appearance in 53 years. Two years later, the Falcons captured the 2024 Mountain West regular-season championship, earning Kazlausky Mountain West Coach of the Year honors.
"People often tell coaches how many lives they have changed," explained Kazlausky. "The truth is, these young men changed mine. They taught me courage, resilience, sacrifice, humility, and what it means to serve something greater than yourself. These men reminded me that leadership is not about the person in front, it is about the ones serving beside you." Coach Kaz would like to recognize two of the men he stood by, Nick Duran and Travis Wilkie ('18), who's lives were lost too soon.
Beyond the wins and championships, Kazlausky built a program centered on developing leaders on and off the field. "From the beginning, our mission was never just about baseball, it was about developing great men, great husbands, and great fathers. It was about taking boys and making them into men, then taking men and making them into warfighters." During his tenure, the Falcons produced 127 Mountain West Academic All-Conference selections, 51 All-Mountain West honorees, 15 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region selections, nine All-Americans, nine MLB Draft picks, four Freshmen All-Americans, three Mountain West Freshmen of the Year, three Mountain West Pitchers of the Year, three Mountain West Players of the Year, two CSC Academic All-Americans, the 2020 Air Force Cadet of the Year, and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove recipient.
While Kazlausky's time in the dugout has come to a close, his service to the Academy continues. As he transitions into his new role within Air Force Athletics, he leaves behind a program forever shaped by his unwavering commitment to the Academy, the game of baseball, and the generations of Falcons he helped lead. Kazlausky shared, "The mission has not changed, my love for this place has not changed, my commitment to the Academy has not changed, only my role has. I will always be Kaz, fight for our Academy, and bleed red, white, and blue."
In his final remarks, Kazlausky stated, "I will spend the rest of my life trying to honor the gift this Academy has given me. It changed the course of my life, blessed my family, shaped my children, and surrounded us with the very best people our nation has to offer. For that, I will be forever grateful and will always be on your wing! Fly, Fight, Win and Blue Skies!"
"It is not with a heavy heart, regret, or sadness that I officially step down as the head coach of America's Team at our United States Air Force Academy, it is with overwhelming gratitude," expressed Kazlausky. "For 16 years as the head baseball coach, and after more than thirty years serving this program, I have had the privilege of living a dream few people ever experience. Every day I walked onto the field representing something far greater than baseball, it was the honor of wearing Air Force across my chest and standing beside young men who chose a life of service before they ever played a game."
Few individuals have shaped Air Force baseball quite like Kazlausky. Over 36 years, he served the Academy as a student-athlete, assistant coach, head coach, and Air Force officer, leaving an enduring legacy defined by excellence, leadership, and service.
His Air Force journey began in 1988 as a walk-on who developed into one of the program's most accomplished players. A four-year starter, two-time All-Western Athletic Conference selection, and four-year letterwinner, Kazlausky led the Falcons in batting in 1989 and 1991. He still holds three program records and ranks among the top 10 in 14 career and single-season statistical categories.
Kazlausky said, "I will forever be thankful to our Academy for giving me the opportunity to become a cadet in 1987, that moment changed the direction of my life and my family's forever."
After graduating in 1991, Kazlausky returned to the Academy as an assistant coach under Paul Mainieri from 1993-95, helping guide the Falcons to three consecutive winning seasons. The 1994 squad led the nation in batting average, slugging percentage, and triples, while the 1995 team won 29 games, the second-highest total in program history at the time.
Following that coaching stint, Kazlausky continued his commitment to the Air Force as a C-17 pilot stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. He later returned to the Academy in 2000 as a TG-4 and T-41/C-150 evaluator pilot with the 94th Flying Training Squadron, while simultaneously serving as the Falcons' volunteer assistant coach and head coach of the Air Force Preparatory School baseball team. His impact was immediate as the 2002 Falcons established a then-school record for Division I victories, and two players were selected in the MLB Draft.
After another assignment to Charleston, where he flew missions in support of the Global War on Terror, Kazlausky made his return to the Academy in 2006 for a third stint as an assistant coach before serving as an Air Officer Commanding for cadet squadron 12 in 2010.
"I have only worn two uniforms in my life, our nation's uniform and our Air Force baseball uniform," voiced Kazlausky. "Those uniforms are woven into my identity. I may be stepping away from the dugout but I will never stop wearing them in my heart."
Named head coach prior to the 2011 season, Kazlausky went on to become the longest-tenured and winningest coach in Air Force baseball history, recording 365 victories across 16 seasons.
His teams qualified for the Mountain West Championships eight times, highlighted by the program's 2022 Mountain West Tournament title that secured Air Force's first NCAA Regional appearance in 53 years. Two years later, the Falcons captured the 2024 Mountain West regular-season championship, earning Kazlausky Mountain West Coach of the Year honors.
"People often tell coaches how many lives they have changed," explained Kazlausky. "The truth is, these young men changed mine. They taught me courage, resilience, sacrifice, humility, and what it means to serve something greater than yourself. These men reminded me that leadership is not about the person in front, it is about the ones serving beside you." Coach Kaz would like to recognize two of the men he stood by, Nick Duran and Travis Wilkie ('18), who's lives were lost too soon.
Beyond the wins and championships, Kazlausky built a program centered on developing leaders on and off the field. "From the beginning, our mission was never just about baseball, it was about developing great men, great husbands, and great fathers. It was about taking boys and making them into men, then taking men and making them into warfighters." During his tenure, the Falcons produced 127 Mountain West Academic All-Conference selections, 51 All-Mountain West honorees, 15 ABCA/Rawlings All-Region selections, nine All-Americans, nine MLB Draft picks, four Freshmen All-Americans, three Mountain West Freshmen of the Year, three Mountain West Pitchers of the Year, three Mountain West Players of the Year, two CSC Academic All-Americans, the 2020 Air Force Cadet of the Year, and an ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove recipient.
While Kazlausky's time in the dugout has come to a close, his service to the Academy continues. As he transitions into his new role within Air Force Athletics, he leaves behind a program forever shaped by his unwavering commitment to the Academy, the game of baseball, and the generations of Falcons he helped lead. Kazlausky shared, "The mission has not changed, my love for this place has not changed, my commitment to the Academy has not changed, only my role has. I will always be Kaz, fight for our Academy, and bleed red, white, and blue."
In his final remarks, Kazlausky stated, "I will spend the rest of my life trying to honor the gift this Academy has given me. It changed the course of my life, blessed my family, shaped my children, and surrounded us with the very best people our nation has to offer. For that, I will be forever grateful and will always be on your wing! Fly, Fight, Win and Blue Skies!"
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