MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead Hall of Famer and softball great Jennifer Bagley Trotter was officially inducted into the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Hall of Fame on Tuesday evening. The induction took place as part of the league's Hall of Fame banquet, hosted in Moorhead.
Jennifer Bagley Trotter is widely regarded as the most dominant pitcher in Minnesota State University Moorhead softball history. A four-year starter from 1993 to 1996, she anchored the Dragons' pitching staff and graduated as the program's all-time leader in strikeouts with 590—a record that underscores her sustained excellence and competitive fire in the circle.
Bagley Trotter, a native of Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, was instrumental in leading MSUM to back-to-back NAIA National Tournament appearances in 1995 and 1996, marking one of the most successful stretches in program history. Her on-field performance earned her All-NSIC honors in both years. In 1995 she led the NSIC with 55 strikeouts and led or was tied for lead in complete games in NSIC play. She still ranks within MSUM's top five in career complete games (82), ERA (1.59), wins (51), shutouts (17) and games started (85). A true all-around athlete, she also lettered in golf during her collegiate career.
After her playing days, Bagley Trotter quickly transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant at Humboldt State University in California before being named the head coach at Missouri Western State University in 2002. Her coaching career continued its upward trajectory, and she now leads the softball program at the University of St. Thomas, where she continues to impact the game through her leadership, mentorship, and passion for player development.
Bagley Trotter's legacy in softball—as both a record-breaking athlete and accomplished coach—remains a powerful testament to her talent, dedication, and lifelong commitment to the sport.
She and her husband, Regi, have three children; Quentin, Camille and Zoe.
Founded in 1986, the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC - the former men's conference) Hall of Fame was established to recognize and honor those who made significant contributions to the conference, to create favorable publicity and public relations for the league and to help preserve the history of the NIC, its member institutions, student-athletes, and other significant individuals affiliated with the league. For the first two inductions (1986 and 1990) each selection hailed from the NIC. In 1992, the Northern Sun Conference (NSC - the former women's conference) and the NIC merged, creating the current Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). After annual inductions since 2000, the NSIC Hall of Fame will now boast over 225 members and three teams.
Each NSIC institution (who has been a league member for at least ten years) is asked to submit one candidate for consideration for induction into the Hall of Fame. Each of the candidates are derived from individuals who have been affiliated with the NSIC, NIC, NSC and their member institutions.
In order to be eligible for the NSIC Hall of Fame, candidates must have made their contributions in one of the following areas: 1) former student-athletes, 2) administrator/coach, 3) official/supervisor/coordinator, 4) contributor/ supporter, or 5) team. The conference provides two plaques; one of which will go to the inductee and one to the institution represented. A history of each inductee will be kept in the NSIC Office and each institution will prominently display the plaques of their respective NSIC Hall of Fame inductees.
