Tommy Downs enters his second season as the head softball coach at the University of Sioux Falls in 2026-27 after making an immediate impact on the Cougar program in his first year at the helm. A proven program builder with more than two decades of coaching experience, Downs has established a reputation for transforming programs, developing championship-caliber student-athletes, and fostering a culture of excellence both on and off the field.
In his debut season at USF in 2025-26, Downs guided the Cougars to a 28-28 overall record while laying a strong foundation for future success. His squad compiled 358 hits and scored 216 runs while the pitching staff combined for 337 strikeouts across 367.2 innings. Under his guidance, Maddi Duncan emerged as one of the premier pitchers in NCAA Division II, earning First-Team All-NSIC honors, three NSIC Pitcher of the Week selections, a Chick-fil-A Athlete of the Month honor, and recognition on the NFCA Division II Pitcher of the Year Watch List.
The Cougars also excelled in the classroom during Downs' first season, earning three NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors, four NSIC All-Academic selections, two NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction awards, and a CorTrust Scholar-Athlete designation for Addison Heule.
Downs arrived in Sioux Falls following a transformative three-year tenure at Dakota Wesleyan University, where he engineered one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent Great Plains Athletic Conference history. Under his leadership, the Tigers posted the best season in program history with 34 victories in 2025 and secured the program's first conference postseason appearance in a decade.
His impact at Dakota Wesleyan was both immediate and historic. The Tigers shattered 32 school records, rewriting nearly every offensive category in the record book, including hits (505), runs (301), RBIs (249), home runs (50), triples (21), doubles (102), stolen bases (98), and batting average (.346). The pitching staff also established a new program record with a 3.15 team ERA. Equally impressive was the program's academic success, as Dakota Wesleyan ranked 20th nationally in team GPA and first in the GPAC with a collective 3.70 GPA.
Prior to Dakota Wesleyan, Downs led another remarkable turnaround at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona. During his tenure from 2020-22, he guided the Eagles to a 42-8 overall record and helped the program earn its first national ranking in school history, climbing as high as No. 23 in the NAIA Top 25 Poll. His teams also captured a conference championship and defeated seven of the nine nationally ranked opponents they faced.
At Embry-Riddle, Downs' teams established new standards of excellence, setting school records with a 1.16 team ERA and a .374 team batting average. The Eagles also recorded a perfect game, eight shutouts, and three no-hitters while finishing seventh nationally in both triples and opponents' batting average.
Over more than 20 years of coaching, Downs has built an extensive résumé spanning high school, club, and collegiate softball. As a former professional hitting instructor, he has mentored student-athletes at every level of collegiate softball, including NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and junior college programs. His reputation as both an elite tactician and mentor has made him one of the most respected developmental coaches in the game.
In addition to his coaching background, Downs enjoyed a successful 20-year amateur baseball career that included a tryout with the Kansas City Royals organization and appearances in four state championship games and two super regionals. Those experiences have shaped his competitive philosophy and continue to influence his approach to leadership and player development.
USF Records and Accomplishments
- 28-28 overall record in first season at USF
- Coached one First-Team All-NSIC selection
- Coached one NFCA Division II Pitcher of the Year Watch List honoree
- Coached three NSIC Pitcher of the Week awards
- Coached one Chick-fil-A Athlete of the Month selection
- Contributed to three NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors
- Mentored four NSIC All-Academic selections
- Coached two NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction honorees
- Coached one CorTrust Scholar-Athlete
Career Coaching Accomplishments
- Led Dakota Wesleyan to a program-record 34 wins in 2025
- Guided Dakota Wesleyan to its first conference playoff appearance in 10 years
- Oversaw teams that broke 32 school records at Dakota Wesleyan
- Coached a Dakota Wesleyan team that ranked 20th nationally in GPA and first in the GPAC with a 3.70 team GPA
- Led Embry-Riddle to a 42-8 record from 2020-22
- Guided Embry-Riddle to its first national ranking in program history, reaching No. 23 in the NAIA Poll
- Won a conference championship at Embry-Riddle
- Defeated seven nationally ranked opponents at Embry-Riddle
- More than 20 years of coaching experience across high school, club, and collegiate softball
- Former professional hitting instructor and mentor to student-athletes across NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NAIA, and junior college levels
Updated 6/18/2026
