University of Wisconsin La Crosse Athletics

Jan Protsman is in his third year as an assistant softball coach at UW-La Crosse in 2026-27. A native of Lansing, Iowa, Protsman graduated from Viterbo University (Wis.) in 1991 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He played baseball for the V-Hawks for two years before starting to serve as an assistant softball coach.

UWL went 23-17 overall and 7-7 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in 2026, earning a bid to the league tournament. Carmen Follette and Amber Gonzalez were named to the All-WIAC First Team while Brooke Howard and Marissa Pease earned honorable mention awards. Lindsay Steien was selected to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) All-Region VIII Third Team. 

The Eagles finished 22-19 overall and 7-7 in the (WIAC) in 2025, advancing to the league tournament. Howard and Kyra Lard earned All-WIAC First Team honors with Bryne Bieri being selected to the honorable mention team. Lard was also named the WIAC Judy Kruckman Scholar-Athlete.

Probst has coached at levels from 10 and under through college. He has been involved with many area high school and travel ball over the last 15 years while providing hitting instruction from the Wisconsin/Minnesota/Iowa area for 20 years. 

Protsman played at Kee High (Iowa) High School, appearing in three state championships, winning one title. He played for the winningest coach in Iowa history, Gene Schultz.