Kristi Paulson is in her fifth season (2023-24) as Co-Head Coach of the Parkland softball program. She and her husband, Dan, took over the reins in the fall of 2020. Prior to that, the pair served as volunteer coaches for the Cobras. Under their direction, the Paulson's have propelled Parkland to a record of 147-50 (.746 winning percentage), three straight M-WAC conference titles, two Central District Championships, and two top-eight finishes at the NJCAA DII National Championships (7th 2021, 5th 2023).
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, the Paulsons most recently coached the 2018 Premier Fastpitch Under-16 team to a ninth-place finish at nationals in Huntington Beach, California. In addition to contending at the national level, the program has also dominated at the state level, winning eight Illinois State ‘A’ Championships. Overall, the Premier Fastpitch has maintained a .738 winning percentage (389-138) since its inception.
Kristi Paulson played softball collegiately at Lake Land College, helping the Lakers its first NJCAA Division I National Tournament in 2005-06. Kristi went on to complete her bachelor’s degree at Eastern Illinois University, earning her teaching certificate in K-12 physical education, while also serving as a volunteer assistant at Lake Land. Kristi has since served as the Junior High softball coach at Casey-Westfield and as Head Cross Country Coach and Assistant Softball Coach at Tuscola High School.
Kristi hails from Mattoon, Illinois, and she and Dan are the parents of four children. Kristi’s father, Bert Bradley, has served as both a pitching coach and national scout in the San Francisco Giants organization.
Updated January 2024
