FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – Head Coach Donnie Danklefsen has been named the 2025 Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Softball Coach of the Year by his peers.
The Thunder were a dominate force in the conference this season, going undefeated in regular season play on the way to their 14th MIAA title. The team's flawless 16-0, was the third unbeaten performance in program history and just the tenth time any MIAA team has accomplished the feat. The regular season title was also the sixth straight for the Thunder.
In the conference tournament, Danklefsen coached the team through a loss to Adrian College, winning their way back to the final day of the event. Trine went on to sweep the third day, capturing their fourth-straight MIAA Tournament Championship and the accompanying automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship. The team will host a regional this week, beginning on Thursday, May 15.
Under Danklefsen's leadership the team secured seven representatives on this season's All-MIAA teams and swept the conference's top honors. Alexis Michon was named the MIAA Most Valuable Pitcher while Karley Trine earned MIAA Most Valuable Position Player.
Danklefsen is the only coach to have guided Trine softball since the university joined NCAA Division III ahead of the 2005 season. He enters this year's tournament with a career record of 674-206.
The Thunder will face the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg in their first game on Thursday. That contest is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. For more information on the Angola, Indiana Regional visit the tournament page.
