Don Danklefsen has served as head coach for Trine softball since 2004, overseeing the completion of team’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division III and developing the program into a one of the nation’s best. Along the way he has accumulated a 638-201 record and a .760 winning percentage as he enters the 21st season at the helm.
Under his guidance the Thunder have appeared in 15 NCAA Regionals including a stretch of 12 straight from 2008 to 2019. Out of those berths to the NCAA Division III Softball Championship Tournament he has collected seven Regional titles and five Super-Regional championships. After earning their first trip to the final site of the national tournament in 2014, Danklefsen’s teams have steadily improved their finish during each trip, starting with two seventh-place finishes before a third and runner-up performance. The team gave Trine University it’s first ever NCAA Division III team national championship in 2023.
After setting new standards for the program with a third-place finish in 2019 and as national runners-up in 2022, the Thunder traveled to Marshall, Texas for the 2023 finals with just one last hill to climb. Their prospects looked grim after a dropping their first contest of in the double-elimination event. They responded by reeling off four-straight for a repeat appearance in the championship series. After another loss to start the best-of-three series against Salisbury University, the Thunder secured their championship by sweeping the decisive day of the tournament.
On that final day, Anna Koeppl started the first game with five and a third innings of perfect pitching before being relieved by Alexis Michon who recorded a save in the 6-2 victory. Michon then pitched a two-hitter in the winner-take-all contest. But it was Carolyn Biel who played hero, making a highlight reel catch behind the plate, which showed up in the ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 later that night, and then walked-off the game in the bottom of the seventh inning for the 1-0 win.
In recognition of his success on the national stage Danklefsen and his staff were named the 2023 NFCA Coaching Staff of the Year. The program has earned Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year honors six times, including back-to-back seasons twice.
Danklefsen has also brought the team to international recognition by way of a hidden ball trick that sent the team to the final site of the NCAA tournament in 2019. After securing ESPN SportsCenter Top 10 status, the play was aired on news and sports programs across the globe, reaching as far as Japan.
The Thunder are also a perennial power in the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association. They have captured MIAA regular-season titles in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Danklefsen has led the Thunder to the MIAA Tournament crown ten times, including the past three seasons. During the 2014 season, Trine set the all-time MIAA mark for most consecutive wins with 46- a streak that eventually reached 49 games.
Numerous student-athletes have earned individual honors during their time under Danklefsen’s tutelage, including 15 appearances by 11 different Thunder on All-American teams. Carly Searles leads the way with three All-American seasons, with Debbie Hill and Kaylee Fox each owning a pair. Fox was the first Trine freshman to earn All-American honors with Hill serving as the second while also becoming the first member of the team to be named Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA tournament. Five athletes have earned Academic All-American honors with Bree Fuller leading the way with two.
The team has produced seven MIAA Players of the Year and eight MIAA Pitchers of the Year under Danklefsen. As a member of the MIAA, Trine has produced 56 First-Team All-MIAA selections and 51 Second-Team.
Danklefsen's players also have held several national records. During the 2015 season, Searles became NCAA Division IIIs all-time leader in hits, triples and runs scored. She retains both the triples and runs scored marks to this day. Sarah Belote holds the national records for most home runs, RBIs and total bases in a game.
Danklefsen graduated from Trine (then Tri-State) in 2003 with a degree in Sport Management. While at Tri-State, Danklefsen was an emotional leader for the Thunder basketball team and was named a team captain during the 2002-03 season.
Danklefsen promotes a program that values team chemistry, dedication and putting team goals above oneself to achieve the highest level of success.
He and his wife, Holly, have two sons, Easton and Nolan.
