Staff Directory
- Title:
- Softball Head Coach
Shane Bouman was announced by St. Cloud State University Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner as the eighth head coach of St. Cloud State Softball on July 7, 2026. Bouman arrived to St. Cloud 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 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) institution Northwestern (Iowa).
Bouman helped build Northwestern into a perennial Great Plains Athletic Conference (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.
A three-time GPAC Coach of the Year, 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.
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 where he spent one successful season (2011). His team finished the season with a 27-12 overall record and advanced to the Region XI Tournament. Prior to Iowa Lakes, he was the pitching coach at D-I Iowa for three seasons (2008-10), helping the Hawkeyes make the NCAA Tournament twice, including one NCAA Regional. While in Iowa City, Bouman developed one of the nation's top pitching staffs which included back-to-back seasons with a top 10 mark in ERA, a first team all-America honoree, the first NFCA National Player of the Week honoree in school history, multiple Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honorees and school record-holders.
Bouman began his coaching career at his alma mater, South Dakota State, spending six seasons (2002-07) leading the Jackrabbits. He oversaw SDSU’s transition from NCAA Division II to Division I while becoming the program’s all-time wins leader. Off the field, he taught courses in the Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department.
Prior to beginning his coaching journey, he was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the South Dakota State football team, earning All-North Central Conference (NCC) honors as a quarterback.
Aside from coaching, Bouman is also an accomplished softball pitcher. He is a four-time Amateur Softball Association (ASA) All-American and a two-time North American Fastpitch Association (NAFA) All-American and helped lead five teams to ASA National Championships. He also competed in nine International Softball Congress (ISC) World Tournaments, placing third in 1995, and fifth in both 1996 and 1997. He is also the owner of Champions Circle Fastpitch, LLC, through which he provides specialized small-group and individual softball instruction for athletes, coaches and parents throughout the Midwest.
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.
Bouman’s brother, Todd, played football and basketball at St. Cloud State from 1993-96 and later in the NFL for 10+ seasons.
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
