The Augustana Vikings are the athletic teams that represent Augustana University, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Vikings compete as members of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference for all 14 varsity sports. The Vikings joined the NSIC from the North Central Conference, which folded in 2008.
Project 2030 In December 2018, as part of a plan called "Project 2030", Augustana announced its intentions to transition to NCAA Division I by 2030 at the latest, with hopes to receive a bid to join a Division I conference by 2020. Multiple regional media reports in 2018 indicated that Augustana's likeliest Division I destination was the Sioux Falls-based Summit League. Many of the school's boosters are tied to Sanford Health, a hospital company also based in Sioux Falls that has long been a major sponsor of the Summit League. Additionally, the conference moved its headquarters in 2018 to an office complex owned by Sanford.
On May 22, 2020, the Summit League commissioner, Tom Douple, informed Augustana president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin that the conference would not be adding the Vikings. Despite the snub from the Summit League, Augustana launched a Division I men's ice hockey program in 2023, marking their first Division I sport. As of 2024, plans for a transition to Division I in sports outside hockey have effectively ended. Summit League commissioner Josh Fenton stated in an interview that they have not had discussions about adding Augustana anymore, partially due to the school's pivot towards Division I hockey, a sport the Summit League does not sponsor. Additionally, the university stated they are no longer actively pursuing any Division I all-sports conferences, instead opting to focus on their Division I hockey program.
Varsity sports Men's sports Women's sports Baseball Acrobatics and tumbling Basketball Basketball Cross Country Cross Country Football Golf Golf Soccer Ice Hockey Softball Swimming and diving Swimming and diving Tennis Tennis Track & Field Track & Field Wrestling Volleyball
National championships NCAA 1991 – Softball 2011 – Women's Cross Country 2016 – Men's Basketball 2018 – Baseball 2019 – Softball
Individual programs Football
On September 26, 2007, it was officially announced that Bob and Kari Hall were making a $7.1 million donation for an on-campus football stadium. The stadium is to bear the name Kirkeby-Over Stadium in honor of Kari Hall's parents. Construction began on November 12, 2007 with the official groundbreaking taking place on November 16, 2007. Augustana University recently completed the Hall Football Complex; complete with its own locker rooms, weight room, and football meeting rooms. The head football coach is Jerry Olszewski.
Augustana players who have had significant NFL careers include Les Josephson (Los Angeles Rams –), Bryan Schwartz (Jacksonville Jaguars 1995–1999), Corbin Lacina (1993–2003), Kevin Kaesviharn (2001–2009), and C. J. Ham (Minnesota Vikings –present).
The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Playoffs 8 times. Their combined record is 2–8. 1988 First round North Dakota State L 7–49 1989 First round St. Cloud State L 20–27 2010 Second RoundQuarterfinals Grand Valley StateMinnesota–Duluth W 38–6L 13–24 2015 First round Humboldt State L 31–45 2019 First round Colorado State–Pueblo L 0–17 2021 First round Bemidji State L 24–28 2023 First roundssSecond Round Minnesota StateColorado Mines W 51–24L 10–56 2024 First round Minnesota State L 19–20
Wrestling In 1976–77, 2004–05, and 2009–10, the Augustana wrestling team finished second in the NCAA Division II Championship. The Elmen Center serves as the home for both the volleyball team and the wrestling team.
Men's Basketball In 2015–16 the men's basketball team coached by Tom Billeter finished the season 34–2 and won the NCAA Division II National Championship. On November 6, 2015, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, the Vikings upset the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference 76–74 in an exhibition game on a buzzer-beating right-handed jumper by Daniel Jansen. Led by Jansen, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Player of the Year, the Vikings were 21–1 in the Northern Sun, then won the NSIC tournament title and captured the Central Regional title with an 80–78 victory over Northwest Missouri State to qualify for the Elite Eight, which was played at Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco, Texas. Augustana defeated Lincoln Memorial 90–81 in the championship game on March 26. Augustana's Arvid Kramer and Brett Szabo both played in the NBA.
The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 19–17. They were National Champions in 2016.
1975 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Nebraska-OmahaMissouri—Rolla L 61–69W 71–64 1977 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game North DakotaNebraska–Omaha L 64–71L 91–93 1978 Regional semifinalsRegional Finals ChapmanWisconsin–Green Bay W 78–66L 60–72 1986 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Wayne State (MI)Eastern Montana L 57–72L 61–86 1988 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Ferris StateSt. Cloud State L 75–91L 114–118 OT 1989 Regional semifinalsRegional 3rd-place game Wisconsin–MilwaukeeAlaska–Fairbanks L 95–99W 112–107 OT 2008 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Minnesota State–MankatoNorthern State W 95–87L 66–75 2009 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional Finals St. Cloud StateWinona StateSouthwest Minnesota State W 73–72W 88–82L 60–73 2010 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional Finals New Mexico HighlandsMesa StateSt. Cloud State W 87–73W 95–84L 75–84 OT 2012 Regional Quarterfinals Colorado Mines L 69–82 2013 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Upper IowaWinona State W 79–65L 65–77 2015 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Arkansas TechNorthwest Missouri State W 104–77L 65–66 2016 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional FinalsElite EightFinal FourNational Championship Game HardingNebraska–KearneyNorthwest Missouri StateTarleton StateWestern OregonLincoln Memorial W 100–85W 77–67W 80–78W 86–79W 74–55W 90–81 2017 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Arkansas–MonticelloNorthwest Missouri State W 76–69L 53–74 2022 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional Finals Southwestern Oklahoma StateUpper IowaNorthwest Missouri State W 83–64W 65–60L 56–70
Women's Basketball The 2012–13 women's basketball team played at San Antonio in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight.
The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 15 times. Their combined record is 12–15.
1990 Regional semifinals North Dakota L 78–93 1991 Regional semifinals North Dakota State L 89–90 1992 Regional semifinalsRegional Finals Nebraska–OmahaNorth Dakota State W 83–70L 69–104 1993 Regional semifinalsRegional Finals North DakotaNorth Dakota State W 79–67L 82–91 1994 Regional First roundRegional semifinals Metro StateNorth Dakota State W 88–65L 59–82 1997 Regional First round Northern State L 65–68 1999 Regional First roundRegional semifinals South Dakota StateNorth Dakota W 66–62L 62–84 2006 Regional Quarterfinals St. Cloud State L 69–82 2007 Regional Quarterfinals Nebraska–Kearney L 68–75 2009 Regional Quarterfinals Minnesota State–Mankato L 68–81 2010 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Minnesota–DuluthFort Lewis W 74–57L 52–79 2012 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinals Colorado State–PuebloWayne State (NE) W 82–76L 40–63 2013 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional FinalsElite EightFinal Four Concordia–St. PaulSouthwestern Oklahoma StateEmporia StateClayton StateDowling W 78–66W 68–64W 75–74W 81–68L 54–76 2018 Regional QuarterfinalsRegional semifinalsRegional Finals LindenwoodNorthern StateCentral Missouri W 75–41W 90–86L 42–81 2023 Regional Quarterfinals Missouri Southern State L 74–75
The Sanford Pentagon and the Elmen Center serve as the home court for the men's and women's basketball teams.
Baseball The 2018 Augustana baseball team won the NCAA Division II College World Series, defeating Columbus State 3–2 in the final. They finished the year 52–9, a school record.
Ice Hockey
On October 5, 2021, Augustana University announced plans to add men's ice hockey starting in the fall of 2023. The team competes at the NCAA Division I level in the CCHA. The announcement was made at the groundbreaking ceremony for Midco Arena which will serves as the team's home. The Vikings are coached by Garrett Raboin.
Awards and honors Kendall Cornick - 2021 NCAA Woman of the Year Award
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