Dec. 23, 2007

OREM, Utah - Eric Madsen has been named the next head baseball coach at Utah Valley and will become just the fourth head coach in the program's 36-year history. He will take over Wolverine baseball program following head coach Steve Gardner's retirement becomes effective at the end of the 2008 season.

Madsen, who has been an assistant coach for the Wolverines since the 2004 season, will have his new title go into effect on July 1, 2008, the same day that the school officially becomes Utah Valley University.

"I'm thrilled that Coach Madsen is going to be the one directing this program in the future. He rose to the top among a great pool of candidates," said Utah Valley director of athletics Mike Jacobsen. "I'm confident he'll do a great job and excited to move forward with his leadership."

"I'm extremely happy for the chance to continue the tradition that Coach Gardner has established," said Madsen. "I'm grateful for this opportunity and eager for the chance to take the program to the next level."

Madsen is entering his fifth season as an assistant under Gardner and has been with Utah Valley since its first season of NCAA Division I competition. At Utah Valley, Madsen tutored Kameron Mickolio, who pitched at the triple-A level in the Seattle Mariners' organization in 2007.

He spent seven years (1996-2003) as the head coach at the College of Eastern Utah, in Price, Utah, amassing a 146-160 record. While there he coached current Texas Rangers pitcher Willie Eyre, who was a junior college All-American while playing for Madsen.

Prior to becoming head coach at Eastern Utah, Madsen spent two years there as an assistant. He was also an assistant coach for the Zion Pioneerz, a former professional independent baseball club in St. George, Utah.

Madsen's played collegiately at both Eastern Utah, from 1990-92, and at Southern Utah University, from 1993-95. He later received his Bachelor's degree from Bellevue University.

Originally from Idaho Falls, Idaho, he graduated from Bonneville High School and lettered in football, basketball, and baseball. Madsen and his wife Jessica have one daughter, Macee, and four sons, Mick, Maddux, McGwire and Mays and are expecting their fifth boy in the spring.