Eastern Oregon University Athletics

Head Coach | 6th Season | 137-93 (.595)

Nicole Christian enters her sixth season as head coach of Mountaineer Softball in 2025. She was named the sixth head coach in program history in June 2019.

2024
In her fifth season, Christian guided Eastern Oregon to an overall record of 39-10 and 22-5 in conference play, ultimately finishing second in regular season play before clinching the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament Championship. The Mounties climbed as high as No. 10 in the NAIA Top 25 rankings, earning the programs first ever No. 1 seed in the NAIA National Championships. The Mountaineers had six All-CCC selections, with pitcher Kaylie Hoskins earning CCC Pitcher of the Year and First-Team All-American honors.

2023
In year four, Christian led the Mounties to another winning season in the most competitive conference in the nation (four nationally ranked teams, top two teams in the nation). Eastern Maintained a national ranking throughout the entire season and finished the year with a 33-19 record while taking fourth at the CCC tournament. 

2022
In her third season leading the charge for EOU, Christian and the Mountaineers posted a 43-17 overall record earning national attention, ranking the Mounties as high as No. 15 in the NAIA Top 25 rankings. Eastern's 24-6 Cascade Collegiate Conference record earned them a birth to the conference tournament as a three seed where they ultimately lost in the CCC semifinals. EOU earned an at large bid to the NAIA National Championships as a 3-seed before being knocked out in the second round.

2021
In her second season at the helm, Christian led the Mountaineers to a 16-32 overall record and a 10-17 record in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. Eastern's CCC record earned them a berth to the conference tournament at the No. 5 seed. The Mounties had three All-CCC selections with Jordan Henley being named to the First Team at infield, Mackenzie Chambers to the Second Team at catcher, and Amanda Smith earning Honorable Mention Honors at pitcher.

2020
In her first season in 2020, Christian and EOU’s season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They finished the shortened season at 6-15 overall, but posted a 5-4 record in CCC play. Due to COVID-19, there were no selections for the All-Conference Team.

Prior to joining to EOU, Christian was the head softball coach and assistant girl’s basketball coach at McLoughlin Union High School (Mac-High) since 2008. In 10 seasons as the softball coach, Christian’s squad made the state tournament nine- times, all of which were consecutive. Her team also made four straight State Championship game appearances and won back-to-back state titles in 2014 and 2015. During the 2018 campaign, she also picked up career win No. 300. She was inducted into the Mac-High Hall of Fame in 2018.

Before Mac-High, Christian was the softball bench boss at Umatilla High School from 2005-08. She spent some time in the junior college ranks as the head coach at Blue Mountain Community College from 2003-05.

Christian began her coaching career in 2001 when she was named the head softball coach for La Grande High School. She was with the Tigers from 2001-03.

As a collegiate athlete, Christian is no stranger to EOU, having been a four-year starter for the Mountaineers and was a two-time All-American. She played for EOU from 1996-2000 and was inducted in the Mountaineer Hall of Fame twice. She went in with the 1999 team in 2011 and two years later in 2013, she was inducted as an individual.

She received multiple accolades in her career. Christian was First Team All-Conference selection and First Team All-Region from 1998-2000. In 2000, she was selected as a NAIA First-Team All-American. She was also selected as the 1999 Cascade Conference Softball Player of the Year and the Cascade Conference Female Player of the Year. Christian was a member of the 1999 team which placed fourth in the NAIA National Championship and a member of the 2000 team that finished fifth.

Christian received her Bachelor’s Science degree in Physical Education and Health from EOU in 2011. She currently resides in La Grande in her free time enjoys being outdoors, fishing, camping and traveling.