Nicole Steinbach was named assistant softball coach in the summer of 2018 and immediately made her presence felt, especially as the head of the Coyotes' pitching staff. South Dakota under Steinbach turned in the third-most wins in program history and most at the Division I level. The Coyotes were 33-28 during a season that included a record 11 straight wins at home, a victory over then-No. 23 Michigan in Tempe, Arizona, and a trip to the championship game of the Summit League Tournament. South Dakota's entire infield, including two pitchers and a catcher, earned all-conference honors. The Coyotes also boasted 11 shutouts, up from just three in 2018, and a team ERA of 3.82 that was nearly two runs better than the prior season.
Steinbach arrived at USD from Bethel College (Ind.) where she served as an assistant coach. She managed the Pilots’ lifting and conditioning in addition to pitching and hitting workouts. Other coaching experience includes working with the NWI White Sox Fastpitch Under-16 team.
Steinbach, a 2016 graduate of Ball State University, was a two-time NFCA All-Region and three-time all-MAC second team pitcher. She compiled 111 starts with 80 complete games for the Cardinals over four years. Steinbach was the 2013 MAC Freshman of the Year with 21 starts and an ERA of 2.28. She compiled 514 strikeouts with a career ERA of 3.24. She pitched 15 shutouts over her career.
A native of Merrillville, Indiana, Steinbach received her bachelor’s degree in sport administration from BSU. She is currently working towards her MBA from Purdue University.
