Before coming to St. Cloud, Bouman finished eight years at Northwestern (Iowa) where in 2024 his team broke the school record with 50 wins in one season.

RUTHTON – On Tuesday, Ruthton native Shane Bouman was announced as the newest head coach for the St. Cloud State Softball team.

According to St. Cloud State communications, Bouman returns to Minnesota after recording 25 years of experience and 550 wins at the collegiate level.

Bouman said he decided to take over the St. Cloud program after talking with St. Cloud Director of Athletics Holly Schreiner about the commitment to female athletics that includes soccer, volleyball and softball. He also praised the university’s commitment to balancing athletes sports and academics.

“My family and I are really excited,” Bouman said. “St. Cloud State has a great program for these women, and the move will be much closer to my family, so it’s great for us all.”

Coming to Minnesota means he will be closer to his brothers and parents and his wife will be closer to her family. The move gives Minnesota universities two Bouman softball coaches. Bailey Bouman, Shane’s niece, has been SMSU’s head softball coach since 2018.

Bouman’s life in the softball world started when he was very young. His dad coached boys fastpitch softball. Bouman’s experience playing softball both under his dad and in college led him to coaching.

According to St. Cloud State, Bouman went on to coach at a variety of different universities since beginning his career coaching softball in 2002, including South Dakota State University from 2002-07, where he oversaw their transfer from Division II to Division I and became the programs all time wins leader.

Then, he moved to Iowa State University, where he took the team to the NCAA Tournament twice, according to St. Cloud communications. The Cyclones finished in the top 10 for earned runs average (ERA) that year.

Next, he spent one year at Iowa Lakes Community College in 2011 where he finished the season with a 27-12 overall record.

From 2012-2017, Bouman went to Indiana State to coach their D-1 team, delivering “the most successful era in program history,” according to St. Cloud communications. The Sycamores captured their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament Title in 2015 and made first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Bouman now comes to St. Cloud after eight years at Northwestern, where he had a 271-108 overall record and breaking NWC’s school record in 2024 with 50 wins in a single season.

After St. Cloud went 46-15 last season, Bouman has high hopes for a championship. While he says there’s no guarantee of winning, if you do the right things those chances are raised.

“Our girls are turning themselves into powerful women,” Bouman said. “They’re willing to do the simple things that some people won’t. It’s those things that will make them champions for life.”