Kate Tobola joined the Dominican University of California softball coaching staff in August 2026 following a four-year playing career with the Penguins from 2023-26.
A two-time All-PacWest selection, Tobola concluded her collegiate career as one of the most productive all-around players of Dominican's NCAA Division II era. She appeared in 180 games with 157 starts and finished with a .294 career batting average, 141 hits, 92 runs, 64 RBIs, 25 doubles, six triples, nine home runs and 50 stolen bases. She also totaled 210 assists defensively while playing throughout the infield and outfield.
Tobola enjoyed her best season as a senior in 2026, earning second-team All-PacWest honors for the second consecutive year while also receiving PacWest Player of the Week and Academic All-PacWest recognition. She started all 50 games at third base and led Dominican with a .350 batting average, 56 hits and 31 runs while adding 25 RBIs, nine doubles, four triples, three home runs and 14 stolen bases. Her 56 hits ranked second on Dominican's NCAA Division II-era single-season list, while her four triples tied for second and her 16 extra-base hits tied for sixth.
As a junior in 2025, Tobola earned second-team All-PacWest and Academic All-PacWest honors after batting .290 with 36 hits, 30 runs, 17 RBIs and 16 extra-base hits. She helped the Penguins establish NCAA Division II-era program records with 32 overall victories and 23 PacWest wins while making 41 starts at shortstop.
Tobola also earned Academic All-PacWest honors as a sophomore in 2024 after appearing in 39 games. She began her Dominican career in 2023, starting 39 of 40 games between the infield and outfield and leading the team with 19 stolen bases while batting .267 and driving in 15 runs.
By the conclusion of her career, Tobola ranked among Dominican's NCAA Division II-era career leaders in numerous offensive categories, including extra-base hits, stolen bases, runs, hits, games played, doubles, triples, home runs and RBIs. Her 50 career stolen bases and versatility across multiple defensive positions helped make her one of the program's most complete players during its NCAA Division II era.
A native of Suisun City, California, Tobola attended Angelo Rodriguez High School, where she was a four-year varsity player and earned all-league recognition. She also competed for the Ohana Tigers 18U Gold NorCal Softball Organization before beginning her collegiate career at Dominican.
