Katie East was named the head coach of the Thunder softball program on July 25, 2012. She is entering her fifth year at the helm of the Thunder program in 2017.
The 2016 season was an historic one for the Thunder softball program. Under East's leadership, Wheaton set 13 program records including wins with a record of 32-14. Wheaton won its first CCIW Tournament and made its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Katie Thornton was named an All-American for the second straight season and was joined by Christina Sandstedt on the All-Region team.
In the 2015 season, East and her assistant coaches were voted by the CCIW's coaches as the 2015 CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year. This marked only the second time Wheaton has won the award. East guided Wheaton to a school-record 24 victories in 2015, including tying the program record for CCIW victories in a season with 11. Her squad set several team and individual single-season school records this year, including: home runs (27); doubles (73); RBI (215) and total bases (514).
East's first season saw the Thunder compile a record of 17-16 and followed with a 20-18 season in 2014.
A 2011 Wheaton graduate, earning her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, she was a four-year letterwinner for the Thunder as a centerfielder. She was a First Team National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Great Lakes Region and CCIW First Team All-Conference as a senior. In the 2011 season, Iser set the school's single-season record for hits (62) and stolen bases (26) while leading the team in batting average (.437). She also owns the Wheaton career stolen bases record with 52 and set the CCIW single-season stolen base record with 15 in her senior campaign. She spent the 2012 season as an assistant coach for the Thunder and was involved in many facets of the program, helping former head coach Chris Hudson.
Katie and her husband JD live locally in the Wheaton area. She can be contacted via email at:
Katie.east@my.wheaton.edu
