SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA - Cal Poly wrestling coach Lennis Cowell, who led the Mustangs for the past 18 years, is stepping down as head coach of the program Cal Poly Athletic Director John McCutcheon announced today.    John Azevedo, who has been Cowell's assistant coach the past two years, will assume the head coaching position on an interim basis.    "I have held my dream job for 18 years, I loved what I did and I couldn't leave the job to a better person (Azevedo)," said Cowell. "Having the opportunity, I was fortunate to work with John McCutcheon and his predecessor Ken Walker who provided every possible opportunity for student-athletes to compete."    Cowell completed his 18th season as the Mustangs head coach in 2003, leading Cal Poly to a 10-9 dual match record and a fourth place finish at the Pac-10 Championships.    "We appreciate Lennis' many years of dedicated service to Cal Poly and its student-athletes and wish him the best," said McCutcheon. "This is also a great opportunity for John (Azevedo) to take over a program that is competitive at the national level".    During his tenure as the head coach, Cowell recorded 12 winning records in dual matches, 14 Pac-10 Conference individual champions, eight Division I All-Americans and three top-five individual place winners at the NCAA Division I Championships. Cowell tallied a 167-147-8 dual match record in his 18-year career.    As a collegiate wrestler for the Mustangs Cowell twice earned All-American honors after finishing third in the 1965 NCAA Division II Championships in the 130-pound weight class and again In 1966 with a fourth in the same weight class. The 1966 team won the school's first ever NCAA Division II Wrestling Championship.    Following his collegiate career, Cowell was an assistant at Cal Poly before becoming the head coach at Cuesta Community College.  He had a one-year stint with Allan Hancock College in 1972 before returning to Cuesta in 1973.    Cowell then went on to coach at the high school level, coaching at San Luis Obispo High School from 1974-78 before beginning a 7-year run at Clovis West High School.  At Clovis West, Cowell won state titles in 1983 and '84 and amassed an 85-dual match winning streak. In 1985, he won the National High School Coach of the Year award and earned Southern Regional Coach of the Year honors in 1983.    Azevedo is a former Olympian and NCAA Champion and has served as an assistant coach at Cal Poly under Cowell the past two seasons. The native of Modesto, CA is a 1980 Cal State Bakersfield graduate and earned his NCAA title in 1980. He amassed a 122-2 record during his collegiate career and was a three-time All-American.