Release courtesy of Franklin College Athletics

FRANKLIN, Ind. – Angela Bain has been appointed as the new head softball coach at Franklin College, announced today by Director of Athletics Andrew Hendricks.

Bain joins the Grizzlies after a two-year stint as an assistant coach at Butler University, where she worked primarily with the outfielders on-field and assisted with all facets of the program off the diamond.

"I am honored and excited to be the next head softball coach at Franklin College," Bain said. "I would like to thank Coach Hendricks and the hiring committee for entrusting me with this role. Their commitment to a positive student-athlete experience is evident in the culture they have created within Franklin athletics and it is my desire to continue this within the softball program." 

"I am thrilled that Coach Bain will be joining the Franklin College family and leading our softball program," Hendricks added. "It was clear in the search process that Coach Bain has the critical thinking skills, experience, and empathy that echo much of what we do here at Franklin. She comes to a program with a group of women ready to win. Our softball facilities remain some of the best in the conference, and our location in south central Indiana is prime within the softball community. We are very excited for Coach Bain and the future of the program under her leadership."

In her second year with the program, the Bulldogs racked up a Big East-best 15 wins before the 2020 season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. Butler led the league in earned run average (2.75), opponent batting average (.221) and team fielding percentage (.979) before the season was cut short.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Bain was a four-year letter-winner at Valparaiso University, where she holds the program record for career at-bats (704) and ranks second in games played (233). She helped the Crusaders win back-to-back Horizon League Tournaments in 2012 and 2013, picking up tournament MVP honors in 2012 and All-Tournament Team honors in both championship seasons. Additionally, she was selected to the 2011 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team.

Off the field, she was a three-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athlete and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Mathematics from Valpo in 2014. She would later add a Master of Arts in Counseling from UNC Charlotte in 2018.

Bain got her start in coaching as the head coach of the Fort Wayne Cougar softball travel team from 2010-13. After graduation from Valpo, she was named the head varsity softball coach at Concordia Lutheran HS from 2014-15 before heading east to pursue her master's degree.

"I would also like to thank Scott Hall, Stacey Goyette, and all of Butler Athletics for their leadership and creating an environment that allowed me to grow and prepare for this opportunity," Bain continued. "I will always be so grateful for my time there. I look forward to getting started, meeting our student-athletes, and joining the Franklin College community."