NOTE: At the end of the 2014-15 season, Dan Powers' contract was not renewed, ending his tenure as head coach of the Seattle University softball team.
In his first five years as head coach of the Seattle University softball program, Dan Powers turned the program from competitive to a powerhouse within the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the NCAA Division II West Region. Finishing his 11th season at the helm of the program in 2014, Powers hopes to continue to lead the program toward the pinnacle of NCAA Division I softball. The team has a newly renovated on-campus home, Logan Field, which opened in fall 2012.
In 2014, Powers led the Redhawks to their first WAC Tournament appearance, hosted at Logan Field at Seattle University Park, where they fell to eventual tournament runner-up, New Mexico State. Powers coached WAC Freshman of the Year, Lindsay Davis, who led the Redhawk pitching staff in ERA, wins, shutouts, and complete games.
In 2011, the Redhawks finished fifth in the PCSC Mountain Division and with a 15-30 overall record. However, several of Powers' key players received recognition for their contribution to the team. Sarah Petosa was named College Sports Madness PCSC Second-Team All-Conference, as well as First-Team PCSC All-Mountain Division. Bubba Morrow was also named First-Team All-Division, and Mandie Sugita, Brianna Guerrero, and Lisa Maulden were named Second-Team All-Division.
In 2010, Powers took the team to a third-place finish in the Mountain Division of the Pacific Coast Softball Conference with a 11-9 record. Seven players were recognized by the PCSC, with two being named to the first team. The team remained competitve within the PCSC Mountain Division in 2011 before suffering some close losses at the end of the campaign.
In 2009, the Redhawks won the Division I Independent Softball Tournament with a 10-9 victory over South Dakota. In its first year as a Division I program, Powers led wins over Illinois-Chicago, Loyola Marymount, Boise State, Utah Valley, Saint Mary’s, New Mexico, and Idaho State and finished with an 18-20 record.
In 2008, Powers led his team to their first GNAC Conference title and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament birth. His team also accumulated the most wins in school history with an 18-6 conference record and a overall record of 38-14. Powers also had numerous players that earned all-conference and all-district teams.
In 2007, Powers saw his team just one win away from reaching the NCAA Division II Women’s College World Series. It was the furthest that the program had ever advanced. Seattle single-handedly knocked out top-seeded, Humboldt State, ranked #3 in the nation from the regional by defeating them twice. Seattle also earned wins against #25 Hawaii-Hilo and #6 Stanislaus State. With their great play at the regional, Seattle finished ranked #18 in the country, their highest ranking ever.
2007 was indeed a great year for Powers and Seattle University softball. Powers oversaw a team win a school record 36 games. In addition he saw several of his players win individual honors. Erin Martin, Megan MacIsaac, Brenda Stice, and Katie Peterson each earned All-GNAC First Team honors, while Katie Antich was named to the Second Team. Academically, Powers also had four members of the Academic All-GNAC team; Kelli Marek, Katie Ledbetter, Jane Purdy, and Heather Hansen.
In 2006, Powers led Seattle to its second berth in the NCAA Division II West Regional in three seasons. Once again, the Redhawks improved on their win total, earning 34 victories during the season. A school-record seven players earned All-GNAC honors, including pitcher Erin Martin and second baseman Jane Purdy, players recruited by Powers who are expected to set many school records before the end of their careers.
Seattle turned around in 2005 and missed the postseason by one spot, but once again set a school record for most wins in a season with 30. Powers also led the Redhawks to nine consecutive wins during the season, which tied the school record from one year previous, and Seattle also set numerous offensive school records including most home runs in a season with 35.
The improvement to the Redhawk program has been immense since Powers first came to Seattle. Not only did he lead the Redhawks to second-place finishes in the GNAC in each of his first three seasons with the program, the Redhawks also placed third in the NCAA Division II West Region in their first trip to the postseason in 2004 and won 29 games along the way. For his efforts in leading Seattle to its best conference finish and highest win total in school history that year, Powers was named GNAC Coach of the Year.
A Seattle native, Powers served as the head coach of the Lindbergh High School softball program for three seasons before coming to Seattle University. He led the Eagles to back-to-back undefeated seasons in league play in 2001 and ‘02 and earned Seamount League Coach of the Year honors both seasons. Along with those two league titles, Powers guided Lindbergh to one district championship and two class 3A state tournament appearances. He served as an assistant coach for one season prior to taking over the head coaching position at Lindbergh.
Powers had competed in men’s fastpitch as a catcher for eight years and a pitcher for seven years. He retired from Cleon’s, a team based out of Tacoma, Wash in 2007. That team placed seventh at the ASA B National Championship in Garland, Texas in 2004, and followed up with a 13th-place finish at the ASA C National Championship in 2005 at Stockton, Calif. In 1994 he helped the Hobnobbers, a local men’s fastpitch club, win the NAFA AA World Series in Salt Lake City, Utah. In all, Powers has competed in 14 national and world championships.
Powers began playing men’s fastpitch in the Greater Puget Sound League in 1989. As a prep, he lettered four years on the Rainier Beach High School baseball team, helping them to a Metro League title in 1988. Powers graduated from Pacific Lutheran University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Powers currently lives in Burien with his wife Sunny, their daughter Lauren Taylor, son Daniel Austin, daughter Jordan Rae, and son Dylan.
DAN POWERS' COACHING RECORD
| Year | Wins | Losses | Pct. | Conference Finish |
| 2004 | 29 | 17 | .630 | 2nd GNAC |
| 2005 | 30 | 15 | .667 | 2nd GNAC |
| 2006 | 34 | 22 | .607 | 2nd GNAC |
| 2007 | 36 | 23 | .610 | T3rd GNAC |
| 2008 | 38 | 14 | .731 | T1st GNAC |
| 2009 | 18 | 20 | .474 | Independent Champions |
| 2010 | 16 | 32 | .337 (1 tie) | 3rd PCSC Mountain |
| 2011 | 11 | 35 | .239 | 5th PCSC Mountain |
| 2012 | 15 | 30 | .333 | 5th PCSC Mountain |
| 2013 | 20 | 33 | .377 | T6th WAC |
| 18 | 4th WAC | |||
| 5th WAC | ||||
| Total | 281 | 311 | .475 |