The 2025/26 season marks Coach Tjebben’s 6^th year as Head Coach, 11^th year overall with Iowa Central Softball. Tjebben is a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate and former All-State and Hall of Fame Baseball player, who played for Iowa Central & Iowa State University, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree.

Before landing at Iowa Central, Tjebben coached softball over a decade for Fort Dodge Girls Fastpitch travel squads and assisted the Fort Dodge Dodger Softball (5A) High school program. Tjebben also served on the Board for FDGFA and is named in the Hall of Fame for both Fort Dodge Senior High (Baseball) and the Fort Dodge Softball Association (Softball).

Entering season 6, Coach Tjebben holds a career record 189-105-1, finishing his 5^th (2025) record-breaking season 49-12. He led the Tritons to a 2^nd place ICCAC finish and received a #10 seed/bid to the NJCAA DII Softball World Series (first appearance in 16 years). The Tritons earned a top 8 World Series finish and took home the 2025 NJCAA Softball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award! Awards continued to stack up for the Tritons as Coach Tjebben was named ICCAC 2025 Coach of the Year and (8) Tritons landed on the All-Region XI Team. Additionally, Bre Nolte & Jayda Long were selected NFCA 1^st Team All-Region & NFCA All-Americans, Kaylee Cary was awarded ICCAC Defensive Player of the Year & NJCAA Golden Glove and (19) Tritons collectively landed on the Academic All-Region list!

Coach Tjebben takes great pride in his program, his players and the team culture of Triton Softball (The Triton Way)! He had the following to say regarding his team and being awarded Coach of the Year:

“Our team culture here at IC is built from many pieces. We strive to provide a family atmosphere, encourage players to be great teammates, to respect the game/be great leaders and represent IC on and off the field with high values. I could go on and on about our players, we truly care for each of them like our own! To say I was honored to receive “Coach of the Year” is an understatement! I owe it to my players and Coaching staff, who’ve been truly amazing! Coach Cass is the best at what she does with our pitchers, Coach Bill and Coach Bre help in many different ways. But they all bring value, support, positive attitudes and motivation to our team! I truly am blessed to coach here at Iowa Central and for the constant support provided to our program. It starts at the top, with our Administration and Athletic Director who support us, and extends to our coaching staff, players and their amazing families, who collectively make up our “Triton Family”, which is Iowa Central Softball!”

Additional history:

During his first season as head coach, the Lady Tritons shattered the program’s season homerun record with (88). Over the course of his next 4 seasons Tjebben would lead the Tritons to land (42) on the All-Region XI team, with (6) making NJCAA DIV II Midwest Region and/or NFCA All-Region, and (2) All-Americans named by multiple outlets. In those first 4 seasons the Tritons finished runner up in the Region XI Tournament Championship 3 times and landed (81) Lady Tritons on the Academic All-Region list, while achieving top 5 in the Nation in runs scored, top 10 in hits, Homeruns, etc., in some seasons.

In addition to head coach, Tjebben is an Athletic Coordinator for Iowa Central and resides in Fort Dodge with his wife Chrissy. Both Tjebben’s daughters, Cassie and Bre have earned honors playing softball for Iowa Central and are on the Triton Softball staff. Cassie serves as Full time Assistant/Pitching coach and Bre as a volunteer assistant.