PUEBLO, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo Head Softball Coach Bennie Garcia has announced the hiring of Renae Koppenhafer as the ThunderWolves' new Assistant Softball Coach and Pitching Coach.

Koppenhafer brings over 14 years of coaching experience to the Pack, including stops at NCAA Division I and Division II programs, and most recently served as the assistant coach and pitching and catching coach at fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) member University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS).

"Stepping into CSU Pueblo with Coach Ben Garcia was an easy choice—it felt like I was right at home from day one. I'm thrilled to team up with Coach Garcia again and look forward to building a relentless pitching staff and a championship-caliber team in the RMAC," Koppenhafer said.

Koppenhafer joins the ThunderWolves after spending the 2026 season at UCCS, where she helped guide the Mountain Lions to a 33-22 overall record and an appearance in the semifinals of the RMAC Tournament.

During her time with the Mountain Lions, Koppenhafer helped develop a pitching staff that recorded a 4.74 earned run average and a 1.66 WHIP. Under her guidance, UCCS produced an RMAC First Team All-Conference pitcher, while the program collected multiple individual honors, including an RMAC Pitcher of the Week selection, two RMAC Player of the Week awards, three Second Team All-RMAC selections, a Gold Glove recipient and two Second Team All-Region honors.

Prior to her stint at UCCS, Koppenhafer spent nearly three seasons at NCAA Division I Utah Valley University, serving as an assistant softball coach and recruiting coordinator from November 2022 through July 2025.

While with the Wolverines, Koppenhafer played an instrumental role in player development, recruiting and the day-to-day operations of the program. She developed training programs focused on hitting, throwing and pitching while coordinating recruiting visits and assisting with practice planning, budgeting and team travel.

During her tenure at Utah Valley, the Wolverines produced four All-Western Athletic Conference (WAC) selections and two All-Region honorees.

Before joining Utah Valley, Koppenhafer served as the head softball coach at Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Wash., from August 2021 through November 2022.

At Yakima Valley, she oversaw all aspects of the softball program, including practice planning, player development and academic success. Under her leadership, the program ranked among the top three in the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) in strikeouts while producing two All-NWAC selections and two NWAC All-Academic honorees.

Koppenhafer also spent the 2020-21 season as a volunteer assistant coach at NCAA Division I Southern Utah University, where she assisted with the development of catchers and outfielders while contributing to game preparation and strategy.

Her coaching career also includes seven years as a head softball coach at Topsail High School and with local travel softball programs from August 2013 through March 2020. During that time, she developed practice plans, evaluated prospective players and implemented strategies to help build competitive programs.

In addition to her extensive coaching background, Koppenhafer brings experience in recruiting, strength and conditioning, NCAA compliance and player development across multiple positions.

Koppenhafer earned her Master of Business in Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., and holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Augusta University in Augusta, Ga. She also earned a Licensed Practical Nurse Certificate from Trinidad State Community College in Alamosa, Colo.

Koppenhafer joins a CSU Pueblo softball program coming off a historic 2026 campaign in which the ThunderWolves finished 40-18 overall, captured their first RMAC Tournament Championship since 2001 and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

The ThunderWolves also finished second in the RMAC regular-season standings with a 34-10 conference record.

With Koppenhafer joining Garcia's staff, the Pack will look to build upon last season's success and continue competing for conference and regional championships as preparations begin for the 2027 season.