Katie Duroe became the third softball coach in Bushnell history prior to the 2019 season.
In her first year leading the program, Coach Duroe brought in nearly 20 new athletes for the largest roster in school history. She established a new culture for the program including a leadership committee and freshman roundtable to help empower her players and make sure their voices were heard.
In turn, the 2019 team produced their best record in three years, cutting the team ERA in half, and completed over 100 hours of community service. That team also picked up a road victory against NAIA No. 17-ranked Corban University.
Duroe's second season came during the COVID-19 pandemic that shortened the season to 19 games. The Beacons did pick up a landmark victory during the campaign, topping No. 25 Marymount College.
Duroe came to Bushnell from Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Kansas, where she was the top assistant for two seasons and helped lead a program that was ranked in the top-ten in the NJCAA ranks. Her 2017 Cavalier team took second-place in the Kansas Jayhawk Conference before winning the NJCAA Region VI championship and taking fifth place at the NJCAA National Tournament.While at JCCC she coached nine all-conference athletes, 18 all-region selections, and three All-Americans.
Duroe also previously coached at Ellsworth Community College where she was the head of recruiting. Concurrently, she was the Co-Head Coach at Belmond-Klemme High School.
Her softball history extends into the travel ball ranks where she has extensive experience as a coach, umpire, and radio commentator.
She played collegiately at NAIA Baker University in Kansas and graduated with a bachelor's degree in exercise science. Duroe also earned her Master's degree in Sport Management from Southern New Hampshire University.
Coach Duroe also holds duties as Bushnell's Athletic Event Coordinator.
