ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State University has announced Shane Bouman as the next head coach of St. Cloud State Softball. Bouman comes to SCSU with more than 25 years of coaching experience and more than 550 wins at the collegiate level, most recently spending eight seasons (2018-2026) at Northwestern College.
A three-time GPAC Coach of the Year, Bouman helped build Northwestern into a perennial GPAC and NAIA national contender, posting an overall record of 271-108 (.715), a conference record of 109-44 (.712) and a postseason record of 22-18 (.550) in his eight seasons at the helm of the Red Raiders. He helped guide NWC to a school record 50 wins in 2024, five GPAC Championships (three regular season, two tournament) and three NAIA National Tournament berths in which they hosted the opening round twice (first times in program history) and were regional finalists twice.
Bouman helped develop five NAIA All-Americans, seven All-Region honorees and 38 All-GPAC selections, including the GPAC Player of the Year in 2023 and the GPAC Pitcher of the Year in 2025. Off the field, he served as a GPAC Softball Representative and an NAIA National Midwest Arc Chair, contributing to conference and national governance.
“I am thrilled and honored to be named the next head softball coach at St. Cloud State University,” said Bouman. “Coming off an NSIC Championship and NCAA Tournament berth in 2026, I am excited to continue to build on what Coach U’Ren and Coach Roberts have established. Being a Minnesota native, joining the St. Cloud community and competing in one of the premier conferences in the nation made this a perfect fit for my family. Thank you to Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner, [Associate Athletics Director of Compliance and Administration] Abby Rittenhouse and the entire search committee for this incredible opportunity. I am ready to get to work!”
Prior to his time with Northwestern, Bouman spent five-plus seasons (2012-2017) as the head coach of D-I Indiana State, where he delivered the most successful era in program history, engineering a complete turnaround of a program with only one winning season in 22 years to a Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament champion. He led program to its first MVC Tournament Championship, first NCAA Tournament berth and first NCAA Tournament victory in ISU women’s sports history. In his time with the Sycamores, Bouman’s teams broke over 40 school records including MVC wins in a season, stolen bases and runs scored and produced the 2015 MVC Player of the Year and Tournament MVP. Off the field, he taught courses in the College of Health and Human Services.
Before his time in Terre Haute, Bouman was the head coach at Iowa Lakes Community College for one season, he was the pitching coach at Iowa for three seasons (2008-10), was the head coach at South Dakota State for six seasons (2002-07). He oversaw SDSU’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I while becoming the program’s all-time wins leader.
Bouman holds a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from South Dakota State and a Master of Science in Sport Management from Indiana State. He and his wife Amy have three children – Bradee, Baylor and Berkeley.
THE BOUMAN FILE
Coaching Experience
2019-26: Northwestern (Iowa) (NAIA), Head Coach
2012-17: Indiana State (NCAA D-I), Head Coach
2011: Iowa Lakes Community College (NJCAA), Head Coach
2008-10: Iowa (NCAA D-I), Pitching Coach
2002-07: South Dakota State (NCAA D-I/D-II), Head Coach
