As he begins his 19th season with Saluki softball, SIU alum Mark "Skip" Cosgrove can say he's coached some of the best athletes and teams in Southern Illinois history. Cosgrove has also been a part of the Saluki staff that has earned four straight MVC Staff of the Year awards (2002-05).

Cosgrove has served as an assistant coach for SIU's regular-season Gateway (1991) and Missouri Valley Conference (2004 & 2005) championships, a Gateway Tournament title (1991) and all six of the Salukis' NCAA Tournament teams (1991, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 & 2007).

During the previous 18 years, Cosgrove has watched the Salukis build a 645-300-2 record with a .681 winning percentage.

The SIU alum, who heads into his 13th season as a salaried coach, is responsible for working with the outfielders, event management and as a camp instructor.

The three starters in outfield in 2007 had a total of only four errors with 175 put outs and seven assists for a .962 fielding percentage.

Cosgrove's outfielders were part of a Saluki defense that finished with a .976 fielding percentage, finishing first in the MVC and fourth in the entire nation, making it the fifth-straight year the Salukis finish in the top 50. SIU finished 26th in 2003 (.969), 30th in 2004 (.967), 23rd in 2005 (.970), and 47th in 2006 (.967).

From last year's outfield, Tiffanie Dismore and Krystal Stein earned post-season honors. Dismore was named Second-Team All-MVC, and named to the All-MVC Scholar-Athlete Team and CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District V. Stein was also named to the All-MVC Scholar Athlete Team

Cosgrove recently retired after 29 years of service at SIU's Plant and Service Operations, where he coordinated the university's ADA compliance projects.

Cosgrove holds two degrees from Southern Illinois, earning a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences in 1974 and his master's in outdoor recreation in 1986.

A Peru, Ill. native, Cosgrove has been involved with youth sports for more than 30 years, coaching softball at various levels. In 1991, he guided his 16-and-under ASA team to a seventh-place finish at the state tournament.

The next year, his 18-and-under squad placed fourth in state competition, and qualified for the Midwest Regionals.

Cosgrove and his wife, Patty, who works at SIU, have two children.