CO- Head Coach

Dan Paulson

Lake Land College President Josh Bullock and Athletic Director William Jackson announces Dan Paulson as CO-Head Softball Coach on June 6th 2024.

Coach Dan Paulson recently completed his 5th season (2023-24) as Co-Head Coach of the

Parkland College softball program. He and his wife, Kristi, took over the reigns in the fall

of 2020. Prior to that, the pair served as volunteer coaches for the Cobras. Under their

direction, the Paulsons’ have propelled Parkland to a record of 205-56 (.785 winning

percentage), four straight M-WAC conference titles, three Central District

Championships, and three top-ten finishes at the NJCAA DII National Championships

(7th 2021, 5th 2023, 9th 2024). The 2023-2024 season finished with the all time highest

winning percentage in Parkland history with a record of 58-6 good for a .906 winning

percentage.

During their 4 full seasons (2020 was shortened due to covid) their teams

had 8 NJCAA ALL American selections and 8 NFCA ALL American Selections. The

Region 24 player of the year came from the Cobras all four years and the Paulsons

were named Region 24 coach of the year in 2021, 2023, and 2024 and MWAC

Coaching Staff of the Year in 2021, 2023, and 2024. Most recently, for the 2024 season

their staff was voted “NFCA National Coaching Staff of the year.”

The Paulsons created Premier Fastpitch in 2011, and has seen the program develop

into a routine competitor on the national stage placing in the top-10 at numerous

national tournaments. Individually, the Paulsons’ Premier program has mentored over

100 athletes that have gone on to play in college, including many at the Division I level.

This is rooted in the philosophy that they will bring to the Laker program. “Our

philosophy is to coach athletes to be the very best they can be both on and off the field,

to do everything they do in life with a purpose, and to make themselves one percent

better every single day. These traits will carry on with our athletes long after their time

playing the game of softball and help guide them to success in life” says Dan Paulson.

Off the field, Dan Paulson is the President and CEO of the Premier Print Group and

Wave Graphics. Dan has lived in Mattoon his entire life and is a proud Alum of Lake

Land College.

He and Kristi are proud parents of four very active children, Andi-9,

Jaxon- 7, Hayden- 5, and Livi -10 months.