FAIRFAX, Va. - Rowing assistant coach Laura Mikels has announced her resignation from George Mason University to return to her home state of Indiana.  Mikels completed her fourth year with the Patriots during the 2013-14 season.

“Laura is an excellent coach and will be greatly missed at Mason,” commented head coach Ted Nagorsen. “She established a great relationship with everyone that has been a member of the program, both past and present. We wish her the best in her future endeavors.”

While with the Patriots, Mikels spent three years as the novice coach before moving to varsity this past season. She mentored novice athletes into varsity athletes, including the varsity pair that took home bronze in the 2013 Dad Vail Regatta.

Before coming to Mason, Mikels was the novice coach at McLean High School. The Indiana native graduated from Indiana University in 2006. She received a full athletic scholarship to the university and was a two-time NCAA All-American (2005 and 2006) and three-time All-Big Ten (2004, 2005 and 2006) in rowing. Mikels received her Master's in Education from the University of Florida in 2008.