Athletic Director

About Augsburg University

Founded in 1869, Augsburg University (Augsburg), located in the heart of Minneapolis, is a dynamic and vibrant institution known for its rich academic history, strong commitment to social justice, and a deep sense of community. Just blocks away from the Seven Corners theater district and the Mississippi River, with bus routes and transit rail lines to unite Augsburg with the greater Twin Cities area, the campus offers the best of both worlds: a small, close-knit community where relationships are at the forefront, and the dynamic opportunities of a metropolitan city.

With a strong liberal arts foundation and a focus on experiential learning, Augsburg is dedicated to preparing students for lives of service, leadership, and professional success. Augsburg offers 50 undergraduate majors and 11 graduate degrees to a diverse population of nearly 3,200 students. Fondly known as the “Auggies”, Augsburg’s diverse student body is made up of 57% first generation college students, 3.2% international students, and 55% students of color and represents 36 U.S. States and 28 countries. In addition to its academic offerings, Augsburg supports a vibrant campus life with over 50 student organizations, ranging from academic societies to different cultural groups. Students are encouraged to participate in these organizations to enhance their educational experience and foster a sense of belonging on campus. Augsburg emphasizes a holistic education where students are educated to become responsible leaders, critical thinkers, informed citizens, and thoughtful stewards in their community.

Under the leadership of President Paul. C. Pribbenow, Ph.D., Augsburg College became Augsburg University in recognition of its expansive academic mission to serve undergraduate and graduate students on campus and at locations around the world. President Pribbenow has led multiple successful capital campaigns, raising over $55 million to construct the Norman and Evangeline Hagfors Center for Science, Business, and Religion, which opened in January 2018, and the recently completed $129 million Great Returns scholarship campaign. In 2019, President Pribbenow led the University in the development of Augsburg150, which focuses on strengthening Augsburg’s three-dimensional education (educating students to make a living, make a life, and build community), advancing the public purposes of an Augsburg education, and growing as a sustainable university.

About the Position and Augsburg Athletics

Reporting directly to the President, the Athletic Director is responsible for the leadership, strategic planning, management and administration of the University’s athletic program, in addition to overseeing budgets, personnel, planning, fundraising, marketing, media contract negotiations, and the student-athlete experience. The Athletic Director must also ensure full compliance with University, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), and NCAA rules and regulations governing intercollegiate athletics and all applicable State rules and laws.

Augsburg competes as a member of the MIAC and offers 22 varsity sports at the NCAA Division III level. Currently celebrating their 100th year of athletics in 2024-25, Augsburg athletics programs have seen significant success, especially in men’s wrestling, who boasts 15 NCAA Division III national championships. Both men’s and women’s soccer, men’s and women’s hockey, basketball, volleyball, and track & field teams are often competitive in MIAC championships as well. Student-athletes at Augsburg are deeply committed to community service, and the athletic department emphasizes the development of well-rounded student-athletes who contribute to their sports as well as the local community. There are also a number of student-athletes who compete in more than one sport at the University. Augsburg’s athletic success is supported by a commitment to academic excellence, and many of its student-athletes excel in both their athletic and academic pursuits.

Augsburg has invested deeply in its athletic facilities to enhance the student-athlete experience. Si Melby Hall is where volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s wrestling host their matches. The lower level of the facility holds the athletic training/sports medicine facility, which was updated in 2019, the women’s locker rooms, which were updated in 2023, a training room for men’s and women’s golf, and the Donny Wichman ’89 Weight Room. The Kennedy Center is home to men’s and women’s wrestling and includes their training facilities, as well as locker room space for 5 teams. Edor Nelson Field is the outdoor athletic field and is home to the football, softball, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s soccer teams. Edor Nelson field is unique among Minnesota colleges and universities for its versatility, as a home for 5 sports teams. For the winter months, the University installs an air-inflated dome, which covers the field and allows sports to continue in the colder weather. Edor Nelson field is a valuable asset for the university and is used by numerous community groups, including intramural teams, indoor soccer leagues, golfers, track and field athletes, and amateur and semi-pro soccer teams in the summer. Augsburg also has two ice rinks, the larger being named Ed Saugestad Rink. The larger is used for competition for men’s and women’s hockey teams, but having two rinks allows for more flexibility in practice times for both teams. Ed Saugestad Rink is one of only three on-campus ice rinks for colleges in the MIAC, and one of only three on-campus ice facilities among all colleges and universities in the Twin Cities area.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Proactively build and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with colleagues across campus, within the local community, regionally and nationally to provide strategic leadership and sound decision-making through the development of a clear vision to ensure the continued elevation of the Augsburg Athletics Department and to achieve goals for competitive success, an outstanding student experience, philanthropic support, compliance, fiscal affairs, personnel, strategic planning, facilities, general operations, public relations and community engagement that reflects the mission and values of the University as a whole.

• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures that promote best practices, addresses personnel development, financial management, facility management, alumni and community relations, and compliance and regulatory expectations, and focuses on providing exceptional customer service and the presence of effective organizational structures and processes for assessment and improvement.

• Work collaboratively and diligently with University Advancement to actively participate in fund-raising activities, and oversee revenue generation activities for athletics, including the identification and solicitation of corporations and sponsors, and individuals in support of annual giving, endowment, scholarship and major gift support.

• Inspire and motivate the entire athletics teams as well as students, faculty, staff, colleagues, alumni, and friends of the University through setting goals and taking risks to attain superior, measurable results in support of the mission, vision, and strategic plan.

• Support, recruit, lead, mentor, and retain talented coaches and administrators, with an emphasis on racial and gender equity and advocacy for underrepresented groups, who are committed to excellence, diversity and inclusion, the welfare of the student-athletes, and professionalism.

• Cultivate an environment of professional development and continuous improvement for staff through effective planning, policy creation, and programming that are in coordination with the University, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC), and all NCAA rules and regulations.

• Partner with admissions on data informed enrollment planning and support efforts.

• Partner with and support the new student recruitment efforts of the coaching staff to ensure enrollment of diverse and highly-qualified student-athletes. Set conditions and develop short-term and long-term plans for recruitment efforts that maintain integrity and promote an environment that fosters each student-athlete’s health and welfare, academic and athletic achievement, and overall growth and development.

• Collaborate and consult with the Faculty Athletics Representative and the Student Athletic Advisory Committee, to communicate the goals and policies of the program, receive input, and ensure that the athletic programs are meeting the needs of these campus constituencies and issues related to the support and development of students are being addressed.

• Broaden and enhance the reputation of Augsburg Athletics through partnering with institutional stakeholders to promote programs and generate fan support for student-athletes through a comprehensive, strategic communications program as well as personal interactions.

• Promote and instill a community of compliance, to include a culture and commitment to Title IX, gender equity, and high ethical standards throughout the Athletics Department.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is preferred.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in increasingly responsible leadership for intercollegiate athletics programs at higher education institutions with profiles similar to Augsburg.

• Coaching experience, is preferred.

• Experience integrating athletics programs with wider institutional programs and values, especially enrollment and student success offices.

• A commitment to Augsburg’s mission and its equity and inclusion values.

• Fundraising experience for athletic programs and facilities.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills and an ability to work effectively with multiple constituent groups.

• Inclusive leadership style with a proven history of promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as working knowledge of Title IX.

• Reputation as a strategic leader of integrity and vision who is firm, yet flexible, trusted, and respected.

• Proven ability to work with diverse populations of students, faculty, staff, and external constituents.

• Demonstrated success in hiring, supervising, mentoring and leading senior-level staff and coaches who field competitive teams and graduate athletes.