Bio

Eddie Trenkle became the Head Coach for the Plainsmen basketball program in 2006. In his first year, Trenkle led Northeastern to a Region IX Championship and a 7th-place finish in the National Tournament. He also led the Plainsmen to a 34-2 overall record and a national ranking of third.  That same year,  Northeastern was also undefeated at home and in Region IX play. In his second season at Northeastern, Trenkle posted a 30-4 record and was ranked third nationally. Trenkle’s third season started off like the previous two, starting the year off with an 8-0 mark and ranked third in the country before they took their first loss of the season. The Plainsmen finished the year hosting the Regional Tournament and beating eventual National Champions Salt Lake Community College.

Since becoming the head coach, Coach Trenkle has continued the path of excellence adding some great freshmen and recruiting some key Division I transfers.  Trenkle wants to fill his teams with players who know how to win at every level. He wants kids to know that they have come in to work and compete at the highest level. Coach Trenkle and his staff want to share the same goal, “Win a National Title for Northeastern!” 

Trenkle took the Northeastern job after serving as an assistant men’s basketball coach and instructor in the human performance and wellness department at Fort Hays State University. During his tenure at FHSU, they reached the Division II National Tournament two times and were ranked number one in the nation during his final season there. Prior to this position, he was a graduate assistant to the men's basketball program at Idaho State University from 2000-2002.

Trenkle finished his bachelor's degree and earned a master's degree in athletic administration at Idaho State University.

Before starting his coaching career, Trenkle was a 5'10" point guard who came to NJC in the fall of 1997 after playing one season at Northwest College in Powell, WY. He was a three-year letterman at Twin Falls High School in Twin Falls, Idaho.  Former NJC Coach Lowell Roumph welcomed Trenkle's interest and enthusiasm for the NJC program. Trenkle would find his niche on the court at the three-point line for the Plainsman where he was known for sinking clutch baskets.

Following one year of play at NJC, Trenkle played two seasons at Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University) in Grand Junction. At Grand Junction, he played in the national tournament and both years played in the RMAC Title game falling to Metro State University. Coach Trenkle has used his experiences in basketball to mold his coaching philosophy to what it is today. He believes that kids should work hard and never take anything for granted. He also believes that graduating is the first and foremost reason to be in college while athletics is a distant second. Since Trenkle has come to Northeastern he has watched every kid move on to a four-year college and become successful while receiving their diplomas. He is very proud of Northeastern and what the college means to him and to his community.  

Trenkle resides in Merino with his wife, Catheryne and their four children; Faith, Deacon, Zavier and Archer.