Coach Mark Edmonston, known by players and peers as “Coach E,” brings decades of experience and a proven track record of success to the Knights Women’s Softball program. A lifelong student and teacher of the game, he began his playing career in Yakima, competing in men’s fastpitch from 1975–1982 before transitioning fully into coaching.
Over the years, Coach E. has coached at every level, from 12U recreational ball to NCAA Division II softball. He was a founding member of Washington Thunder Softball, leading teams from 14U–18A to numerous championships, including the 2017 Seattle-Tacoma Metro Championship and four NAFA Summer Nationals titles (2017, 2019, 2021, 2023). His 2017 Thunder team posted an impressive 40–5 record, capturing eight of the nine tournaments they entered.
At the collegiate level, Coach E. served at Pierce College (Lakewood/Puyallup), first as an assistant (2002–2007) before becoming head coach in 2008. Under his leadership, Pierce won multiple Western Region Championships (2007–2011, 2013), and he was named Western Region Coach of the Year four times. He left Pierce in 2017 as the winningest coach in program history with 262 victories.
Following his time at Pierce, he joined Saint Martin’s University as pitching and catching coach (2017–2019) before being named head coach at Wenatchee Valley College in 2019. After two seasons, Coach E. went on to lead the Wenatchee High School Panthers softball program, where he continued developing athletes and building a culture of success. Now, he returns to WVC to take the helm of the Knights Women’s Softball team.
Beyond the field, Coach E. has been married to his high school sweetheart, Shirley, since 1978. They have two daughters, Kelly (owner of Bombshell Pilates in Manhattan) and Kristi (executive with Citizen Watches), both living in Brooklyn, NY. He and Shirley enjoy traveling through central Washington and playing local golf courses.
“Structure and personal responsibility lead to success. My goal is to honor the customs, traditions, and excellence of Knights Softball while building a perennial contender for the Eastern Region and NWAC titles.”
