Hamline University Athletics

Jim Rubbelke, arguably one of the greatest softball coaches in MIAC history, is in his 18th season leading the Pipers after taking over the program in 2008. The St. Paul native is the winningest softball coach in school history with an overall mark of 318-282-2. He brings a diverse amount of coaching experience and a lifelong passion for the game to the program.

In addition to coaching at Hamline, Rubbelke works with the Minnesota Magic club program, coaching the 16u Gold team. In 2019, he guided his team to a USSSA National Championship in Kansas City.

With Rubbelke at the helm, the Pipers have qualified for the MIAC Playoff Tournament nine different times. In 2015 he was named MIAC Coach of the Year after his team finished second in the conference with a 17-5 MIAC record, the highest finish ever for a HU softball team. In his career, he has coached 20 All-Region selections, and 43 All-Conference nods.

Success has followed Rubbelke since taking the job at Hamline. In his first season, he took the Pipers to a third-place regular season finish and a second-place finish in the MIAC tournament en route to compiling a 26-14 overall mark. Three of his players were named to the MIAC All-Tournament Team. That same number of players earned Third Team All-Region honors for their play during the season.

During Rubbelke's second season, the Pipers lost to the regular season conference champion Gusties in the semifinal game of the MIAC tournament. The team finished the regular season in third place and had five athletes earn MIAC post-season honors while two were named All-Region. In all, his teams have had 10 winning seasons in his 17 years as head coach.
 
In 2017, the Pipers contended for a conference championship en route to a 23-15 final record. HU defeated St. Thomas three times without a loss, including knocking them out of the MIAC playoffs on the Tommies' home field. HU advanced to the conference championship game of the tournament for the second time in school history. The team returned to the championship game again in 2019, falling 1-0 in 11 innings.

In 2016, the Pipers qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the second consecutive season with a 15-7 league standard. HU won one game in the tournament to finish with an overall mark of 26-17. HU tied a school record when five players were named to the All-Conference team. 

In 2022, the Pipers qualified for the MIAC playoffs for the first time in three seasons finishing 19-15 on the season. The Pipers also had four All-Conference players including MIAC Rookie of the Year Jenna Rubbelke.

Prior to coming to HU, Rubbelke served as the assistant head coach of the Concordia University (St. Paul) softball program from 1998-2002.  During that time, he helped lead the Golden Bears during their transition from the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (a member of the NAIA) to the NCAA Division II Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). His teams posted a 147-81 overall record during those years, and his successes included a 1998 Upper Midwest Athletic Conference title and the 2001 NSIC regular season and tournament titles.

While at Concordia, Rubbelke also coached his players to several individual honors. He placed six of his players on NSIC All-Tournament teams in two years, including the 2000 and 2001 Most Valuable Pitcher. He also coached a two-time All-NSIC shortstop and an All-NSIC third baseman.

He previously worked as the head football (2001-2007) and baseball coach (2003-2007) at Harding High School in St. Paul. In 2000, he was the offensive coordinator for Harding. He also has experience coaching hockey as the White Bear Lake High School (1993-1995) and Johnson Senior High School (1985-1991) junior varsity head coach.

Rubbelke served as a clinic coach at the Stanford University softball camp from 1999-2002. An athlete himself, Rubbelke was a three-sport competitor at Johnson High School, and was named to the Top 100 Male Athletes of the St. Paul City Conference in 1999. He played fastpitch softball for over fifteen years in St. Paul, including competing in several national tournaments. He grew up watching his father, Jim Rubbelke, Sr., take to the field. Rubbelke, Sr. was a 2003 inductee to the International Softball Congress Hall of Fame. 

Rubbelke and his wife, Rita, have five children - sons Joe and Nate and daughters Jamie, Megan, and Jenna. Joe had an outstanding career at Hamline that saw him named to three All-MIAC ice hockey teams as a defenseman. He also played two years of baseball. Jamie, who graduated in 2016, played volleyball and softball for four seasons. In the latter sport, she ranks seventh all-time in school history with 177 hits. She was named to the All-Conference team three times and also earned a pair of CoSIDA Academic All-District honors. Nate graduated from Hamline in 2019, serving as a relief pitcher for four seasons. Megan, who graduated from Hamline in 2022, played both volleyball and softball for the Pipers. Jenna is currently a senior with the Pipers volleyball and softball teams.

Jim Rubbelke Hamline Coaching Numbers:

*Season cut short due to COVID-19 pandemic