The 2024-25 academic year will mark Madge Makowske's twenty-ninth year in the St. Kate’s athletics program. She currently serves as the Associate Athletic Director and
Senior Woman Administrator with responsibilities that include leadership roles in the day-to-day athletic operations, compliance, athletic development, fundraising, corporate sponsorships, student-athlete well being, alumnae relations, and new department initiatives. Makowske has additional roles within the university structure that include directing the intramural programs, adjunct teaching in the Exercise Sport Science department and is in her second year as the Deputy Title IX coordinator.
Makowske has an extensive and diverse background both administratively and within the realms of coaching. She has served on committees nationally, within the conference structure and at the university level. Past service includes both the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Midwest Regional Ranking Committee and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top 25 ranking committee for softball and is in a current term working as a member on the NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship committee.
At the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) level, Makowske is currently working within three committees: Academic, Legislative and the Awards committee all of which inform the conference strategic plan. She has chaired the SWA group, has served on the compliance committee, served as a mentor in the MIAC mentoring program and most recently as the liaison to both the conference women’s soccer coaches group and now for the softball coaches group.
Makowske’s collaboration and leadership on campus spans the spectrum. She has been involved with the Marketing Analysis and Strategy Task Force, has for a number of years assisted with selection of the end of year university leadership awards, she has developed policies for student-athlete well-being, worked within the university alumnae association and was formerly the advisor for WSAAC.
During her 18-year tenure with the softball program Makowske earned the highest ranking in the softball coaching profession earning her Four Star Master Coach status through the NFCA. Makowske's Wildcats consistently ranked in the top half of the conference and broke all school records set prior to her time with the program. Under her leadership, the Wildcats made program history picking up back-to-back shutout wins over Gustavus and advancing to the MIAC playoff tournament for the first time. In 2012, she led the Wildcats to an 18-22 overall record, which placed the squad on the NCAA Division III Most Improved teams list. Off the field, the team maintained top honors with the NFCA ranking No. 5 in Division III All-Academic team rankings for 2011-12 with a cumulative GPA of 3.548. Her teams also saw numerous MIAC individual academic all-conference honors throughout the years.
Before arriving at St. Kate’s, Makowske spent five years as the head softball coach at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. In 1994, she led her ARCC team to a second-place finish at the Minnesota Community College State championships, the team's highest finish in school history.
As a collegiate athlete, Makowske established herself as a versatile and dominant athlete. She competed in five intercollegiate sports including softball, soccer, basketball, tennis, and volleyball. In 1986, the school named her Female Athlete of the Year and the Most Valuable Student-Athlete (male or female) for her academic and athletic success. Much of that success came during her 1986-87 competitive season when she earned the Most Dedicated Player award in volleyball, basketball, and softball and garnered MVP honors in softball that same year.
A longtime long-time resident of the twin cities, Makowske received her Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership from St. Catherine University in 2002 and completed her bachelor's degree in physical education and sports medicine with a minor in coaching from St. Cloud State University in 1991. Additionally, Makowske is a graduate of the NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy; she has served as the director of the U.S. Sports/Nike Softball Camps and has been a lead clinician for YWCA and for multiple fast pitch associations throughout the twin cities area. She is an active member of Women Leaders in College Sports (WLCS), Women in Sports and Events (WISE), We COACH, the NFCA and is certified in first aid, CPR and AED use through the American Red Cross.
