Since stepping on campus in 1999, Nan Payne has placed the Capital University softball team among the elite programs not only in the Ohio Athletic Conference but the entire region.
The winningest softball coach in school history, Payne earned OAC and Central Region Coach of the Year honors in 2002. Payne has led the Crusaders to 20 or more wins every season, including a school-record 30 wins, a share of the Ohio Athletic Conference title and a trip to the NCAA Regional semifinals in 2002.
Prior to coming to Columbus, Payne spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Buffalo State College in Buffalo, New York. During her time there, the Bengals made five appearances in the NCAA Tournament while posting a 168-79 record. Payne played an active role in all aspects of the program including pre-season training, practice administration, and game coaching.
As a player, Payne was a four-year letterwinner at the University of Michigan and in 1988 received team's Maize and Blue Award for her exceptional play. She graduated in 1989 with a Bachelor's degree in communications and in 1992, earned a Master's degree in sport management.
Aside from her coaching duties, Payne also runs The Capital Center as the assistant athletic director for facilities. For the past 15 years, she also has held a summer softball camp in Clayton, Ohio.
| Payne Year-By-Year |
Year | Overall | OAC |
1999 | 24-15 | 8-9 |
2000 | 27-17 | 10-6 |
2001 | 24-17-1 | 11-7 |
2002 | 30-10-1^! | 16-2 |
2003 | 27-14 | 11-7 |
2004 | 23-17 | 10-8 |
| 2005 | 28-14 | 12-6 |
| 2006 | 21-18-1 | 8-10 |
| 2007 | 25-17 | 13-5 |
| 2008 | 23-16 | 10-8 |
| 2009 | 20-16 | 8-10 |
10 yrs. | 272-171-3 | 117-78 |
^ - OAC Regular Season Champs
! - NCAA Tournament Appearance
2002 OAC Coach of the Year
2002 Region Coach of the Year |
Andrea Klingle
Assistant Coach
Andrea Klingle has been an assistant coach at Capital since 2007. The former Crusader played for Coach Payne during the 2006 and 2007 seasons after transferring from Clark State Community College.
Klingle's playing career at Capital was highlighted in her senior season when she started 24 games and scored 12 runs. The Crusaders were 25-17 that season and fourth in the OAC standings with a 13-5 record.
Her career at CU was preceded by a two year stint at Clark State where she was recognized as an All-Region player on CSCC's 2005 squad that advanced to the NJCAA National Tournament,
Klingle graduated from Capital in 2007 with a degree in psychology.
Jeff Dupler
Assistant Coach
Dupler began his stint as assistant coach with the Crusaders in 2009. In his first season at Capital, Dupler mentored the CU pitching staff to a 2.42 team ERA and 198 strikeouts while surrendering just 59 walks in 252.0 innings pitched.
Dupler has over 18 years of coaching experience at the high school level. He served as head coach at Lancaster and Amanda Clearcreek High Schools while also working as a pitching coach as Circleville and Fairfield Union High Schools. Dupler was honored as the 2000 Mid State League Coach of the Year while at Amanda Clearcreek High School.
In addition to instructing at clinics for over a decade, Dupler played fastpitch softball for 29 years. He has played and coached in a combined 14 ASA National Tournaments with one second place finish, one fourth place finish and a pair of ninth place finishes to his credit.