Head Coach
Donnie Danklefsen
260.665.4444
danklefsend@trine.edu
Donnie Danklefsen begins his sixth year as head coach of the Thunder softball team. Coach Danklefsen has developed the Trine softball team into an Midwest Region powerhouse and MIAA contender in his first two seasons.

The team captured the school's first MIAA Championship in 2007 and added titles in 2008 and 2009. The Thunder made NCAA Regional appearances in 2008 and 2009.

Under Coach D the Lady Thunder have been regionally and nationally ranked the past three seasons, while leading the MIAA in many defensive and offensive categories. Some MIAA individual honors include the 2007 Most Valuable Player , 2008 Most valuable Pitcher, 2009 Batting Crown Champion.

In five seasons as member of the MIAA the Thunder have produced nine members of the All-MIAA First Team and eleven members of the All-MIAA second team. Coach Danklefsen joined the NFCA 100 wins club last season.

Coach Danklefsen graduated from Tri-State University in 2003 with a degree in Sport Management. While at Tri-State, Danklefsen was a member of the men’s basketball team. He was named team captain in the 2002-2003 season and was an emotional leader for the Thunder.

Coach Danklefsen believes that team chemistry, dedication and putting the betterment of yourself aside for the betterment of the team are the keys to success that he hopes to instill in the Thunder softball program.

Work Hard & Have Fun!

Assistant Coach
Dennis Smith

Dennis Smith enters his first season as assistant coach, he will work with pitchers and catchers. He spent the past 10 years in the same position at NCAA Division I, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Coach Smith was an assistant coach for IPFW during its transition period from Division II to Division I. In 2009, his pitching staff had an accumulated era of 2.63. The 2008 squad played in the conference championship game. Smith was also responsible for recruiting his pitchers on a national and international level.

As a player, Smith played fast-pitch in Iowa from 1980-1998, including a number of state and regional tournaments in that span.

Coach Smith is also employed at Courier Kendallville.

Assistant Coach
Kara Graham

Kara joins the Thunder coaching staff after a prestigious softball career at Trine University. Kara won 3 MIAA titles as a member of the Trine Softball Family. Kara rewrote the offensive records in her four seasons. Her records include:

1st in most runs scored in a season
1st in most runs scored in a career
2nd in most hits in a career
1st in doubles in a season
1st in career double
1st in career homeruns
1st in home runs in a season
1st in career RBI'S
1st in career bases
1st in total bases in a season
1st in career highest slugging % .
1st in season slugging % .

Kara was also a member of the Women’s basketball program. Kara was a very self motivated student athlete and was a tremendous leader. “Kara might be the most competitive player that I have ever coached, she hated to lose and will bring that killer instinct to our coaching staff” said coach Danklefsen.

"I am extremely happy to have her on staff as I know she will be 100% committed to the success of our players on and off the field. Kara is a great example of what hard work and determination can do for an athlete. Her coaching responsibilities will include outfielders, hitting and coaching the JV team."