Kate Drohan - Head Coach - Softball Coaches

Kate Drohan

Title:
Head Coach
Email:
k-drohan@northwestern.edu
Phone:
491-4650

Head coach Kate Drohan has built the Wildcats into a perennial power, winning five Big Ten Championships while qualifying for three Women's College World Series appearances alongside her twin sister and associate head coach, Caryl Drohan. Kate Drohan took over the program in 2002 after serving as an assistant under legendary head coach Sharon Drysdale for four seasons.

Drohan has been named Big Ten Coach of the Year six times (2005, 2006, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024) at the helm of Northwestern Softball, the second-most among any coach in conference history behind only Carol Hutchins. Drohan became the longest tenured coach in program history in 2025, concluding her 24^th season with the program, and became Northwestern Softball’s all-time wins leaders on March 27, 2021 in what marked the Drohan’s 641^st career win.

Postseason success is a trademark of Drohan's teams. The Wildcats have qualified for the NCAA Tournament 18 times in the Drohan era, making 11 regional final appearances, capturing seven regional titles and making three trips to the Women’s College World Series in 2006, 2007 and 2022.

Big Ten dominance is also one of Drohan's hallmarks. The Wildcats have captured five Big Ten Championships in 2006, 2008, 2022, 2023 and 2024, in addition to two Big Ten Tournament titles in 2008 and 2023. Northwestern clinched back-to-back-to-back Big Ten regular season championships from 2022-24, marking just the second time “three-peating” in program history (also 1984-87). Since 2004, the 'Cats have recorded a top-four finish within the conference 17 times, including seven-straight seasons.

Drohan led the 'Cats on an incredible five-year stretch from 2005-09 in which NU compiled a combined record of 215-77, reached the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament four times and became the first private school in NCAA history to advance to the WCWS semifinals in consecutive years (2006-07).

Drohan already has cemented her status as one of the best coaches in Big Ten history, becoming the sixth conference coach (including Drysdale) to take a Big Ten school to the WCWS. At the time, Drohan was one of two B1G coaches to make the final pairing in Oklahoma City.

Northwestern has earned national respect from the pollsters as well. The Wildcats were ranked in 76-consecutive NFCA coaches polls and 78-straight USA Softball polls dating from March of 2005 until March of 2010. NU spent 27 of those weeks in the top 10 of the NFCA rankings, and earned the program's first No. 1 vote in 2008 after defeating then-No. 1 Arizona and then-No. 3 Texas A&M to begin the year.

10 different Wildcats have earned a total of 19 All-America honors under the Drohans. In addition, NU has won six Big Ten Player of the Year, five Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and six Big Ten Freshman of the Year awards over the Drohan tenure.

In addition to all of NU's Big Ten superlative winners and 19 All-America awards, then-NU senior Carri Leto was one of 45 players and the only Big Ten student-athlete to earn a tryout with the U.S. National Team in 2003. Since then, Garland Cooper, Eileen Canney and Tammy Williams all have earned invites to the U.S. National Team selection camp. Canney and Williams won spots on the 2010 USA Softball Women's National Team, marking Northwestern's first contributions to that roster since Lisa Ishikawa in 1985.

Drohan herself joined the USA Softball Women's National Team coaching pool for the 2009-12 quadrennium. She was named the head coach of the 2010 Futures National Team, leading the squad at the 2010 World Cup of Softball.

Year-by-Year Accomplishments:

2025: Drohan led the Wildcats to a 30-20-1 record and a 16-6 record in conference play, leading to Northwestern’s seventh-straight berth to the NCAA tournament and seventh-consecutive Top-4 finish in the Big Ten. The Wildcats earned four wins over RPI Top 25 teams, defeating No. 11 Duke, No. 22 Mississippi State, and No. 6 UCLA twice, in the final series of the regular season.
2024: With a lineup that replaced six of its nine defensive starters from the previous year, Drohan led the Wildcats to a 35-13 record and a 19-3 record in conference play en route to Northwestern’s third-straight Big Ten regular season title and its sixth-consecutive berth to the NCAA Tournament. Drohan was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third season in a row, joining Carol Hutchins as the only coach in conference history to win three-straight Coach of the Year honors. Transfer pitcher Ashley Miller was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, while Kelsey Nader (NFCA) and Kansas Robinson (Softball America) were each named All-Americans following standout sophomore campaigns.
2023: The Wildcats posted a 42-13 record and captured both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles before reaching the NCAA Super Regional round for the seventh time since 2005. It marked the second season in program history in which the Wildcats swept both the Big Ten regular season and tournament titles, having also done so under Drohan in 2008. Ahead of the season, five Wildcat seniors–Nikki Cuchran, Maeve Nelson, Jordyn Rudd, Skyler Shellmyer and Danielle Williams–announced their return to Northwestern for their fifth and final season in Evanston as four went on to earn All-Big Ten postseason recognition. The Wildcats finished 20-3 in Big Ten play, their second-most conference wins in program history, and finished a perfect 14-0 in home games at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, capped off by sweeping the Evanston Regional for their third NCAA regional title in four tournaments.
2022: Drohan led the 'Cats to her third WCWS appearance, compiling a 45-13 record while earning a Big Ten regular season title. Drohan was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year, Rachel Lewis was named the Big Ten Player of the Year, and Danielle Williams was named the unanimous Big Ten Pitcher of the Year as both Lewis and Williams went on to be named First Team NFCA All-Americans. Northwestern earned the No. 9 national seed and swept the Evanston Regional before defeating No. 8 Arizona State on the road in a dramatic three-game Super Regional to advance to the WCWS. Eight different Wildcats earned All-Big Ten selections, while catcher Jordyn Rudd also became the first recipient of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award by the NFCA, was named the National Defensive Player of the Year by Softball America, and won the 2022 Johnny Bench Award as the best female catcher in the nation
2021: In Drohan's 20th season at the helm of Northwestern softball, the Wildcats earned a third place finish in the Big Ten and secured a berth in the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Playing a conference-only schedule in the regular season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Drohan led the Wildcats to a 30-17 overall record and a 29-15 mark in the regular season. With a 15-7 win over Wisconsin on March 27, the Drohans passed Drysdale as Northwestern Softball’s all-time wins leaders.
2019: Drohan was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year for the third time in her career after leading the Wildcats to a 47-13 overall record along with a 21-2 record in the Big Ten, setting a new program record for conference wins in a season. Northwestern also notched a 20-game winning streak from March 29 through May 4, the program's longest winning streak since 1985. Danielle Williams was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and NFCA National Freshman of the Year, becoming the first Big Ten player ever to take home the honor.
2018: The Wildcats posted a 38-19 record and 14-8 mark in Big Ten play en route to a fourth place finish. Northwestern earned two victories in the Big Ten Tournament to advance to the championship game, and two victories in the Athens Regional to advance to Regional Final. The Wildcats finished the season ranked No. 24 in the nation, while Rachel Lewis earned NFCA All-American honors following a stellar rookie campaign.
2017: Juniors Sabrina Rabin and Marissa Panko earned All-Big Ten selections as Northwestern finished the season 25-29, reaching the Big Ten Tournament Quarterfinals.
2016: Northwestern earned its third-straight NCAA Regional appearance following a third place finish in the Big Ten. Four Wildcats earned All-Big Ten honors, headlined by seniors Andrea Filler and Amy Letourneau earning First Team recognition.
2015: Sabrina Rabin was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, becoming the ninth different Wildcat in program history to win the award. In addition to Rabin, Andrea Filler and Andrea DiPrima also took home All-Big Ten selections. Playing the nation’s sixth-toughest schedule, Northwestern finished the season with a 28-23 overall record, qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the 10^th time in a 14-year span.
2014: The Wildcats finished the season with a 35-18 record, earning a spot in the NCAA Regionals while advancing to Seattle Regional Final in what marked NU’s sixth regional final appearance in a 10-year span. Marisa Bast earned First Team All-Big Ten honors and was named Northwestern’s female recipient for the prestigious Big Ten Medal of Honor.
2013: Northwestern finished the season with a 31-22 record and earned a then-program-record 11 Academic All-Big Ten awards. Sophomore Amy Letourneau won the Big Ten batting title with a .382 batting average while also posting a league-leading 288 strikeouts and a team-high 21 wins in the circle.
2012: Playing the nation’s No. 1 ranked nonconference strength of schedule with seven underclassmen in the everyday starting lineup, Northwestern earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Austin Regional Final. Sophomore Marisa Bast was named an NFCA All-American, the seventh different All-American for NU in an eight-season span.
2011: Junior Adrienne Monka was named a First Team NFCA All-American for the second time in her career after posting a .461 batting average with 47 RBI in addition to a school-record 66 walks and .707 on-base percentage. Sophomore Emily Allard was also named a First Team All-Big Ten recipient and earned the NFCA Division I Golden Shoe Award as the nation’s top base stealer and broke the school single-season record with a .491 batting average.
2010: Four Wildcats earned All-Big Ten selections as Northwestern finished the season with a 25-23 record and a fourth place finish in the Big Ten. Northwestern played 16 games against ranked opponents, knocking off No. 10 Stanford and No. 12 California.
2009: Northwestern posted a 31-15 record, earning the No. 12 overall NCAA seed while earning its seventh-straight berth in the NCAA Tournament. Tammy Williams was named the Big Ten Player of the Year for a second-straight season–the fifth season in a row in which Northwestern won the Big Ten Player of the Year award– while Williams and first-year Adrienne Monka were named First Team NFCA All-Americans.
2008: Northwestern swept the Big Ten regular season and Big Ten Tournament championships for the first time in program history. The Wildcats posted a 40-16 record overall and an 18-2 mark in conference play, their most league wins since 1995. Tammy Williams was named a First Team All-American and the Big Ten Player of the Year, Lauren Delaney was named the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and a school-record eight Wildcats earned All-Big Ten honors. Northwestern earned the No. 11 overall seed and won its fourth-consecutive NCAA Regional title.
2007: The Wildcats broke the program record for single-season wins for the second-straight season, finishing 52-13 while making their second-consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series. Northwestern was ranked in the Top-10 all season, finishing the year ranked No. 4 and became the first private school to ever reach the WCWS semifinals in back-to-back seasons. The Wildcats took on the nation's fourth-toughest schedule and earned a program-best No. 2 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament before sweeping the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals. Northwestern swept the Big Ten postseason awards for a second-straight season, with senior Garland Cooper earning her third-straight Big Ten Player of the Year award, senior Eileen Canney repeating as the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year, and Nicole Pauly winning Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Canney, Cooper and Tammy Williams were all named NFCA All-Americans.
2006: Northwestern finished the season as the Women’s College World Series national runner-up, going 50-15 and 16-3 in Big Ten play in what marked the first 50-win season in school and the program’s first Big Ten title since 1987. The Wildcats faced the eighth-toughest schedule in the country and earned the No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament, sweeping the Evanston Regional before fighting back to win a three-game Super Regional and punch their ticket to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in 20 years. In Oklahoma City, the Wildcats made an exciting and perfect 3-0 run through bracket play to the championship series. NU's finish at the WCWS and in the polls -- No. 2 -- both marked program bests. The ‘Cats swept Big Ten postseason honors with Drohan winning Big Ten Coach of the Year for the second year in a row, Garland Cooper repeating as the Big Ten Player of the Year, Eileen Canney winning Big Ten Pitcher of the Year and Tammy Williams being named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year. Canney, Cooper and Williams were all named NFCA All-Americans, while Drohan and her staff earned NFCA/Speedline National Coaching Staff of the Year honors.
2005: Drohan coached NU to its third-straight NCAA appearance in 2005, advancing to Super Regional play after winning South Bend Regional as the nation's No. 9 overall seed. The Wildcats put together a 42-18 record en route to a second-place Big Ten finish -- their best since 1998 -- and a run to the NCAA Super Regional round of 16.Four Wildcats landed first-team All-Big Ten honors, at the time tied for the most in NU history, as sophomore Garland Cooper, first-year Stephanie Churchwell and junior Courtnay Foster all earned All-America distinctions Drohan and her staff were named the NFCA's Mideast Region Co-Coaching Staff of the Year.
2004: The Wildcats earned their second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance, finishing the season 34-20 and 12-8 in Big Ten play en route to a fourth place finish. NU made an appearance in the Top-25 of the NFCA poll twice during the regular season, the first time in the Drohan era, and made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances for the first time in 17 years. Pitcher Eileen Canney was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, while Canney Erin Mobley, Garland Cooper, Carri Leto and Kristen Amegin all earned All-Big Ten accolades.
2003: In Drohan’s second season at the helm, Northwestern earned its first NCAA Tournament appearance and posted a 36-19 overall record, the most wins by the program since 1995. Northwestern challenged itself with 21 games against ranked teams, posting a 13-8 record in those contests. Northwestern led all Big Ten programs with eight All-Big Ten selections, headlined by sophomore Erin Mobley earning a First Team selection.
2002: In Drohan’s first season as head coach, she took over a squad that finished 20-25 in 2001, and led it to a 24-18-1 record in her first season in 2002. Gretchen Barnes and Carri Leto each earned All-Big Ten postseason recognition, while Barnes, Erin Jancic and Lauren Schwendimann all took home NFCA All-Region honors.

Drohan came to Evanston from Boston College, where she had served as an assistant coach for the Eagles for two seasons. There she served as assistant softball coach and assistant athletic director for facilities from 1995-97. In addition to her duties with the softball team, Drohan worked game operations and administration with the Eagles.

A much respected and sought-after clinician, Drohan has delivered lectures to players, coaches and students of the game across the country. Beyond the softball arena, the business community has shown a strong interest in the leadership tools Drohan has developed within the program, leading to speaking engagements in the management world as well. In October of 2019, it was announced that Drohan had been elected President of the NFCA and would serve a three-year tenure beginning in 2020.

Drohan earned her bachelor's degree in biology from Providence in May of 1995. As a member of the Providence softball team, she was named to the All-Big East team in 1992, 1994 and 1995.

Drohan resides in Evanston with her daughter, Ellis.