By Austin Koltonowski

akoltonowski@statenews.com

After seven years at MSU, assistant field hockey coach Molly Pelowski will be leaving the Spartans to take over as head coach for the Central Michigan field hockey program.

The team held a 7-12 record with only 1 loss coming in conference play.

According to a press release by CMU athletics, director of athletics Dave Heeke said he is excited about their incoming coach.

“Molly is a fantastic addition to our staff,” Heeke said. “She has passion and energy for Central Michigan and field hockey that I feel will continue the success our program has had on and off the field. Molly understands what makes this university great and believes in creating a championship experience for all our field hockey student athletes.”

But this is not Pelowski’s first time with the CMU staff. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2005 with a bachelor of science degree in physical education, Pelowski acted as a graduate assistant for Kent State the following year, but soon departed to CMU for a two-year stay. Pelowski said she is thrilled about the forthcoming opportunity.

“I am really looking forward to coming home to Mount Pleasant and being a part of the Central Michigan University community,” Pelowski said. “This is a dream opportunity for myself and my family. I look forward to following in the footsteps of Cristy Freese, who has been a mentor of mine. I am really excited about the opportunity.”

After jumping around for three years, Pelowski joined the Spartans as an assistant coach in 2008. Excelling in her ability to coach goalkeepers, Pelowski had a memorable seven-year tenure, in which she served as MSU’s top assistant coach since 2012.

Pelowski collected a number of accolades as a goalkeeper with the Wolverines. Pelowski helped lead U-M to Big Ten regular-season championships in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2004, of which she was also a member of the 2001 National Championship team.