University of Minnesota Athletics
Melsted Named Head Softball Coach
5/21/2026 10:36:00 AM | Softball
Melsted led Augustana to an 813-313 overall record and was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2024
University of Minnesota Thomas O. Moe Director of Athletics Mark Coyle announced today that Gretta Melsted has been named head softball coach. The University and Melsted have agreed to a five-year term, pending the completion of a background check.
Melsted comes to Minnesota after 20 seasons as the head coach at Augustana University, where she built one of the top Division II softball programs in the country. She guided the Vikings to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship and five consecutive NSIC regular season titles from 2021-25 and most recently helped the Vikings win the 2026 NSIC Tournament.
"Gretta is a proven winner and one of the most respected coaches in college softball," said Coyle. "She is a Hall of Fame coach and has built and sustained a championship program, developed student-athletes at an elite level and has a strong understanding of softball in this region. Her teams have consistently competed for championships, and I am excited to welcome Gretta, her husband Dan and sons Matthew and Jacob to the University of Minnesota."
Melsted led Augustana to an 813-313 overall record, including seven seasons with 50-plus wins, highlighted by a program-best 61-win season in 2019. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2024.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the head softball coach at the University of Minnesota," said Melsted. "This is a program with tremendous tradition, passionate alumni and a proud history of competing at the highest level. I would like to thank President Rebecca Cunningham, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle, sport administrator Joi Thomas and the search committee for trusting me with this opportunity. As someone who grew up in Minnesota, I know how special this place is, and I cannot wait to get to work with our student-athletes and build on the legacy of Gopher softball."
During the 2024 season, Augustana captured its fourth consecutive NSIC Regular Season title, claimed the NSIC Tournament title, won the NCAA Central Regional and advanced to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The Vikings finished the season 50-15 and had four NFCA All-Americans, three D2CCA All-Americans, five NFCA All-Region selections and nine All-NSIC honorees. The Viking softball staff was also recognized as the ATEC/NFCA DII Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
Melsted led Augustana to the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship after guiding the Vikings to a 10-2 record in the NCAA postseason. Augustana defeated No. 2 Winona State in regionals and No. 1 Central Oklahoma in super regionals, both on the road, before earning a pair of 6-4 wins against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the championship series.
Following the historic 2019 season, Melsted and her staff were named the NFCA Central Region and Division II National Staff of the Year. She was also named the NFCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2012 after leading Augustana to a 53-12 record, the NCAA Tournament and a No. 5 final ranking in the NFCA poll.
Melsted's teams have consistently been among the best offensively. In 2023, Augustana ranked second nationally with a .607 slugging percentage and fifth with a .356 batting average. In 2022, the Vikings ranked third nationally in batting average, second in home runs per game and fourth in runs per game.
A native of Albert Lea, Minn., Melsted was the head coach at Culver-Stockton for three seasons before taking over at Augustana. She also served as an assistant coach for softball and women's basketball at William Woods and had assistant coaching stops at Carleton, Robbinsdale Cooper High School and Robbinsdale Armstrong High School.
Melsted earned her bachelor's degree in history from Carleton and her master's degree in education administration from William Woods. She played basketball and softball at Carleton and still holds the school record for runs scored in a season.
She and her husband, Dan Van Schepen, have two sons, Matthew and Jacob.
Melsted comes to Minnesota after 20 seasons as the head coach at Augustana University, where she built one of the top Division II softball programs in the country. She guided the Vikings to 14 NCAA Tournament appearances, the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship and five consecutive NSIC regular season titles from 2021-25 and most recently helped the Vikings win the 2026 NSIC Tournament.
"Gretta is a proven winner and one of the most respected coaches in college softball," said Coyle. "She is a Hall of Fame coach and has built and sustained a championship program, developed student-athletes at an elite level and has a strong understanding of softball in this region. Her teams have consistently competed for championships, and I am excited to welcome Gretta, her husband Dan and sons Matthew and Jacob to the University of Minnesota."
Melsted led Augustana to an 813-313 overall record, including seven seasons with 50-plus wins, highlighted by a program-best 61-win season in 2019. She was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Hall of Fame in December 2024.
"I am incredibly honored and excited to be named the head softball coach at the University of Minnesota," said Melsted. "This is a program with tremendous tradition, passionate alumni and a proud history of competing at the highest level. I would like to thank President Rebecca Cunningham, Director of Athletics Mark Coyle, sport administrator Joi Thomas and the search committee for trusting me with this opportunity. As someone who grew up in Minnesota, I know how special this place is, and I cannot wait to get to work with our student-athletes and build on the legacy of Gopher softball."
Welcome to Minnesota, Coach Melsted! 〽️
— Minnesota Softball (@GopherSoftball) May 21, 2026
Gretta Melsted has been named the new head coach of Gopher Softball!
🔗: https://t.co/uoMyJ5zVOm pic.twitter.com/baiNNgMVyE
During the 2024 season, Augustana captured its fourth consecutive NSIC Regular Season title, claimed the NSIC Tournament title, won the NCAA Central Regional and advanced to the NCAA Division II Softball Championship. The Vikings finished the season 50-15 and had four NFCA All-Americans, three D2CCA All-Americans, five NFCA All-Region selections and nine All-NSIC honorees. The Viking softball staff was also recognized as the ATEC/NFCA DII Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.
Melsted led Augustana to the 2019 NCAA Division II National Championship after guiding the Vikings to a 10-2 record in the NCAA postseason. Augustana defeated No. 2 Winona State in regionals and No. 1 Central Oklahoma in super regionals, both on the road, before earning a pair of 6-4 wins against Texas A&M-Kingsville in the championship series.
Following the historic 2019 season, Melsted and her staff were named the NFCA Central Region and Division II National Staff of the Year. She was also named the NFCA Central Region Coach of the Year in 2012 after leading Augustana to a 53-12 record, the NCAA Tournament and a No. 5 final ranking in the NFCA poll.
Melsted's teams have consistently been among the best offensively. In 2023, Augustana ranked second nationally with a .607 slugging percentage and fifth with a .356 batting average. In 2022, the Vikings ranked third nationally in batting average, second in home runs per game and fourth in runs per game.
A native of Albert Lea, Minn., Melsted was the head coach at Culver-Stockton for three seasons before taking over at Augustana. She also served as an assistant coach for softball and women's basketball at William Woods and had assistant coaching stops at Carleton, Robbinsdale Cooper High School and Robbinsdale Armstrong High School.
Melsted earned her bachelor's degree in history from Carleton and her master's degree in education administration from William Woods. She played basketball and softball at Carleton and still holds the school record for runs scored in a season.
She and her husband, Dan Van Schepen, have two sons, Matthew and Jacob.
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