D1Missouri Valley

Competitive

Drake Softball

Drake University · Bulldogs

Missouri Valley · Des Moines, IA

Solid ProgramGrads earn $72K/yr

$50K

In-state tuition

Up to 25

Scholarships

allowed under 2025 roster-limit rules (funding varies by program)

77%

Graduation rate

Room & board: $12K

2023-2024 data via IPEDS

Drake softball at a glance

Where the program sits and what a year here costs. How athletic aid works in D1.

Conference level: High Major
Est. year, all in: $61,802Tuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.
Debt as a share of year-10 pay: 32%Median debt divided by median earnings 10 years after entry. Lower is easier to pay back.
Total enrollment: 4,504

Cost, debt and enrollment: IPEDS 2023-2024 and College Scorecard. Conference level: CommitBound.

Program Info

Division: D1
Conference: Missouri Valley
Location: Des Moines, IA
Scholarships: Up to 25 (2025 roster rules)

Recruiting Questionnaire

Coaching Staff

Lindsay Diehl

Head Coach

l•••@drake.edu

Jenn Marshall

Assistant Coach

j•••@drake.edu

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Camps & Clinics

Youth Camp

Junior Bulldogs Camp

Date: December 5th, 2026
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 3rd - 7th Grade as of Fall 2026

For younger players, roughly 8th grade and under — development, not recruiting.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Prospect / ID Camp

Winter Prospect Camp I

Date: December 6th, 2026
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall

Run by the program's staff to see and evaluate players — the kind of camp that matters for recruiting.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Skills Clinic

Drake Bulldogs Pitching and Catching Clinic I

Date: January 6th, 2027
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2026

Instruction in a skill, often a weekly series — training, not an evaluation.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Prospect / ID Camp

Winter Prospect Camp II

Date: January 9th, 2027
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall

Run by the program's staff to see and evaluate players — the kind of camp that matters for recruiting.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Skills Clinic

Drake Bulldogs Pitching and Catching Clinic II

Date: January 13th, 2027
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025

Instruction in a skill, often a weekly series — training, not an evaluation.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Skills Clinic

Drake Bulldogs Pitching and Catching Clinic III

Date: January 20th, 2027
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - 12th Grade as of Fall 2025

Instruction in a skill, often a weekly series — training, not an evaluation.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Prospect / ID Camp

Winter Prospect Camp III

Date: January 30th, 2027
Cost: See registration
Age Group: 8th - College Sophomore Grade as of Fall

Run by the program's staff to see and evaluate players — the kind of camp that matters for recruiting.

Register at official site

From the school's athletics site, checked Sep 28, 2026. Confirm dates and cost on the registration page before you travel.

Browse all softball camps in Iowa →

Camp Tips for Recruits

Avoid expensive events that promise 'exposure' but have no confirmed college coaching attendance.
Before paying for any event, ask: which specific coaches will be there? Get confirmation.
Bring printed copies of your recruiting profile to hand to coaches after your session.

What Drake Coaches Look For

Recruiting benchmarks for Mid-Major programs. Min = on the radar, Competitive = solidly in the pool, Elite = stands out.

Pitching Velocity

61 mphMin

64 mphCompetitive

68 mphElite

Exit Velocity (Tee)

69 mphMin

72 mphCompetitive

76 mphElite

Home to 1st (RH)

3 secMin

2.8 secCompetitive

2.7 secElite

Overhand Throw (IF)

63 mphMin

68 mphCompetitive

72 mphElite

Pop Time (2B)

1.95 secMin

1.85 secCompetitive

1.75 secElite

GPA

3.3Min

3.5Competitive

3.8Elite

See how your metrics compare to Drake's standards.

Pitching velocity by age →Exit velocity by age →

Benchmarks compiled from recruiting services. Individual programs may have different expectations based on roster needs.

Quick Fit Check

Enter your top metrics to see how you compare to Drake's Mid-Major standards.

Grade:

Pitching Velocity (mph)

Exit Velocity (Tee) (mph)

Exit Velocity (Live) (mph)

See all 10 metrics across every division →

Recruiting Timeline

D1 contact rules for Drake. Select your graduation year to see personalized deadlines.

Class of 2028 — currently a Junior

When Coaches Can Contact You

September 1 of junior year — coaches can call, text, email, and DM on social media

Campus Visits

Official and unofficial visits with the coaching staff can begin September 1 of junior year (campus visits without recruiting contact are allowed anytime)

Offers & Commitments

Verbal offers can happen anytime (not binding). Written aid offers are signed during the early or regular signing period (the NLI was eliminated in October 2024).

Key Dates

September 1, junior year — official contact begins
September 1, junior year — official and unofficial visits can begin
Early signing period (November) — written aid offer signing
Regular signing period (April) — written aid offer signing

Updated for 2025-2026 NCAA rules

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See how your profile matches up with Drake

Drake softball roster outlook

Drake carries 23 players on its 2026-2027 roster. 4 seniors and graduate students leave after this season, the most at pitchers (2).

Drake 2026-2027 roster by position: players leaving after this season and returning
Position	Leaving	Returning
Pitchers	2	6
Infielders	1	4
Outfielders	0	2
Utility	1	7

From the program's published 2026-2027 roster. “Leaving” counts seniors and graduate students; juniors who transfer or leave early are not included, and players with remaining eligibility can return.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get recruited by Drake University softball?

Start by filling out the Drake University recruiting questionnaire, then email the coaching staff directly. Attend camps and showcases where Drake University coaches are present. CommitBound can help you track your outreach and build recruiting habits.

Does Drake University offer softball scholarships?

Drake University is a D1 program. Up to 25 scholarships are allowed under the 2025 roster-limit rules, though funding varies by program.

When are Drake University softball camps?

Drake University has 7 camps listed. Check the camps section above for dates, costs, and registration links.

Who is the head coach at Drake University?

The current head coach is Lindsay Diehl. Verified coach email access is available with a free CommitBound account.

Follow Drake Softball

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Location

Recruiting Difficulty

Competitive

This is a competitive D1 program. Strong travel ball and academic credentials are expected. Start reaching out to coaches early.

Graduate Outcomes

Median earnings (10yr): $71,901/yr
Median earnings (6yr): $58,233/yr
Median student debt: $23,000
Admission rate: 64%

Consider ROI — 10-year median earnings vs. four years of published tuition

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; tuition from IPEDS.

Academic Profile

Avg. net price: $29,127/yr
Students on Pell Grant: 22%
SAT range (EBRW + Math): 1110–1350
ACT range: 24–29

Avg. net price is the actual average cost after aid — not sticker tuition. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Interested in Drake?

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More D1 Programs in IA

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Quick Facts

Division: D1
Conference: Missouri Valley
State: IA
Camps Listed: 7

Explore Softball in Iowa

Camps in Iowa

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Tournaments in Iowa

Browse upcoming softball tournaments and showcases

Drake Recruiting Questionnaire

Direct link to the official questionnaire and what to have ready

Drake Softball Camps

Camp dates, registration links, and how to prepare

All Recruiting Guides

Step-by-step guides for every stage of recruiting

We work hard to keep all data for Drake accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

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