MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) — Head coach Tommy Downs is leaving Dakota Wesleyan University Softball after a three-year stint with the program to accept a new position at the University of Sioux Falls.
Coach Downs took Tiger Softball to new heights during his time at Dakota Wesleyan, leaving after an impressive 2024-25 season. A 34-16 record took the Tigers to the GPAC Tournament for the first time since 2018, along with a quarter-finals win against Concordia (Neb.) in April 2025.
Downs also established an impressive foundation of leadership, development, and talent for the softball team, which was evident through consistent improvement and several key contributors. DWU received 18 All-Conference athlete awards under Downs, including the program’s first-ever GPAC Player-of-the-Year, McKinnely Mull, and Freshman-of-the-Year, Alison Ernsberger, following the 2025 season. With a good portion of talent returning for the 2025-26 season, Downs’s impact on the program will be felt beyond his time in Mitchell.
Dakota Wesleyan University Athletics would like to thank Coach Downs for his tenure leading DWU Softball. Director of Athletics, Ross Cimpl, wished him the best in the future.
“Coach Downs has developed this program from the ground up, and we thank him for his dedication to DWU Softball. He has done an incredible job in a very short time of establishing a culture of winning. We are grateful for his contributions to DWU and wish him the very best moving forward.”
The search for the program’s next head coach is underway. You can view the official job posting here.