Coach Kristen Fleury (’08) Reflects on DSU’s 2025-26 Softball Season

The 2025-26 season came to an end on Wednesday, May 13th for the Dickinson State University (DSU) Softball team after a 13-inning game at the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round Klamath Falls Bracket at Stilwell Stadium. After winning the Frontier Conference title and advancing to the opening round with wins on Monday and Tuesday, the Blue Hawks finished the season on Wednesday 42-41. “Winning 24 games in a row is not easy at any level of college athletics. That kind of success takes discipline, trust, sacrifice, and a group of players willing to compete for each other every single day, said head coach Kristen Fleury (’08). “Long after the scores and records are forgotten, I’ll remember the character of this team, the way they cared about each other, and the memories we created together throughout this incredible season.”

Coach Fleury’s dedication is apparent in her athlete’s efforts on the field and their respect for their head coach. The 2026 opening round was nothing short of excellence, we came in knowing every team would be there to leave it all out on the field like us,” recalled freshman Emily Madrid. “Though the outcome wasn’t what we wanted, we learned so many lessons that only helped us become better as teammates but as players as well! We look forward to the season ahead!”

This was Coach Fleury’s 16th season as the head softball coach for DSU after taking over the program following her own student-athlete career at DSU in 2009. In 2015 Fleury was named the NDAPSSA Female Team Coach of the Year after the team’s first appearance in the NAIA World Series. Fleury has earned multiple Conference Coach of the Year honors, and her students regularly earn all-conference, all-region, and NAIA Scholar-Athlete recognitions. Fleury serves as the Associate Athletic Director for DSU and holds a master’s degree in human performance and physical education, with a coaching emphasis from Adams State University.

“Dickinson State University has always been a very special place to me,” noted Fleury. “There’s something incredibly rewarding about representing a university that helped shape your own journey. Every time our team competes, I feel a deep sense of pride wearing the Blue Hawk logo because I know what it stands for. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help continue the tradition and culture of DSU athletics while mentoring young women through one of the most important times in their lives.”

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Written by Sarah Griffis – DSU HF Content Writer