Former Griffon softball leader inducted into St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- Jen Trotter built more than a winning softball program during her tenure at Missouri Western State University. She built a culture where excellence and fun went hand in hand.

"She's a game changer. She's a culture changer," said Ryan Menley, MoWest Senior Associate Athletic Director. "You hear the term light up a room, she will literally light up a room. She commands the room."

On Sunday, Aug. 23, the St. Joseph, Mo. Sports Commission inducted Trotter into the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame.

In her first collegiate head coaching job, Trotter changed expectations at Missouri Western. She recorded 676 career victories, including 13 seasons of 30 wins or more. Her teams won four MIAA championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament 11 times.

Former MoWest head baseball coach Buzz Verduzco said Trotter's teams embodied the joy of competition.

"I used to tell our team, you want to watch enthusiastic teams and players and how they go about it and at the same time really enjoying the game, watch Jennifer's teams because that's what they were about," Verduzco said.

Trotter eventually turned her success at Missouri Western into a chance to be closer to home, taking over the softball program at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota in June 2021, where she continues to coach.

But for her accomplishments and leadership at Missouri Western, she is now a St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Famer.

"She'll go down as one of the greatest of all time in Missouri Western history, as just a human," Menley said.

The Class of 2026 is the sixth class to be inducted into the St. Joseph Area Sports Hall of Fame.