2026 Blue KC Coaches With Character Honoree Brandi Thomsen
Lee’s Summit West High School Softball Coach featured the month of September
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (Blue KC) and the “C” You in the Major Leagues (CYITML) Foundation have announced Lee’s Summit West High School softball coach, Brandi Thomsen, as the Blue KC Coaches with Character honoree for the month of September.
As she enters her 30th year of high school coaching, Thomsen has always understood the importance and value of sports in the development of student-athletes. She’s done her part to provide them with her guidance and expertise in basketball, soccer, and volleyball. However, her main sport has always been softball.
“Sports have always been a positive in my life, and I enjoy helping others,” said Thomsen. “So coaching was a great way to merge the two. I’ve ultimately coached all three of my children in different sports and been coaching long enough that I’ve had the honor of coaching my kids’ kids, which was always a goal of mine from the beginning.”
Previously at Belton High School, Thomsen is beginning a new chapter at Lee’s Summit West but instantly knows the best part about her new team – the players.
“I love working with young women and building their confidence,” said Thomsen. “This team is stepping up to all the challenges I have given them, and it has been a great experience so far. It’s important to me that my assistant coaches are builders, not breakers, and my current coaching staff is doing a wonderful job of maintaining high standards, while continually supporting athletes as they work to meet and exceed those expectations.”
With so many memorable softball moments throughout her three decades of coaching, Thomsen can always circle back to a core memory of going to the state tournament for the first time with her daughter as one of the players. To her, being able to share the experience of an incredible season with her daughter was an unforgettable memory.
“We are a family that loves and cares deeply, and most of us don’t know a stranger,” said Thomsen. “I always want to make my family proud. We believe in being of service to others when at all possible and enjoy making others feel good about themselves. I believe in being a servant leader as a coach, and that is because of my family. They support me in everything I do and motivate me to be that support person for my players.”
Thomsen is a constant motivator on the diamond and wants her student-athletes to always believe in themselves and each other. She challenges her players to work hard and push themselves, but also graciously reminds them that it’s okay to ask for help.
“My coaching style is tough, but caring,” said Thomsen. “I have high expectations for my players, but I also work to build strong connections with each of them. I believe that they have to know how much I care about them before they will be able to really understand the standards and expectations of our program. I also want them to know that how I feel about them will not change based on their performance.”
To help build team chemistry, Thomsen makes it a priority to ensure everyone understands their true value to the culture and identity of the softball team. Throughout her career, she’s learned that the top teams, record-wise, usually are the teams that have the best chemistry on and off the field.
“As a former player, Coach Thomsen has instilled in me, and all her players in her program, great values of leadership and work ethic,” said Thomsen’s nominator, Kristen Niemeyer. “She has changed the culture of her teams, while instilling hard work into each of her players. Girls are excited to play in the future. She continues to provide mentorship to me and all the female athletes that cross her path.”
“Brandi’s commitment to coaching and enhancing the lives of high school athletes is evident from her 30 years on the sidelines,” said Jenny Housley, Blue KC President. “Highlighting exemplary coaches, with proven success both on and off the field, is what the Blue KC Coaches with Character program represents. The passion, focus, and determination to pour into student-athletes for three decades is a remarkable accomplishment that we’re honored to recognize. Congratulations!”
“Sports mirror life in so many ways, and our standards are there to help our student-athletes learn to work in a team environment while still being strong as individuals,” said Thomsen.
Blue KC Coaches with Character recipients are honored monthly at Kauffman Stadium during Kansas City Royals home games, and fans are encouraged to nominate high school coaches who are making a positive impact on their schools and communities by using the form online at https://www.BlueKC.com/NominateCoachesWithCharacter.
Blue KC supports the Kansas City community through impactful sports partnership programs
Blue KC Coaches With Character program
