Augustana University women's basketball coach Dave Krauth to retire after this season
A South Dakota basketball legend will coach his final season in 2022-23.
Augustana women's basketball coach Dave Krauth announced Wednesday that the upcoming season, his 34th at the helm of the Vikings, will be his last.
Krauth took over as the Vikings coach in 1989, and has amassed a record of 670-296. He's the all-time winningest coach in Augustana history and ranks 48th all-time among women's basketball coaches across all divisions.
Taking over a team that went 8-20 the year before he arrived, Krauth led his first Vikings team to their first NCAA tournament and would end up taking them to 13 more, including the Division II Final Four in 2013.
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He's a four-time conference coach of the year and a 2022 inductee into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame.
“Coach Krauth is synonymous with women’s basketball at Augustana,” said Vikings athletic director Josh Morton. “While the numbers are staggering as far as wins, championships, and exceptional players, the impact he has had goes beyond that. I’m excited for Dave to enjoy retirement, and because of the program that he has built, both from the past and the present, the future of Augustana women’s basketball is bright.”
In his 33 seasons, he has coached 69 all-conference performers, 13 of which have earned a conference player of the year title. In just the past nine seasons, Krauth has coached five NSIC Defensive Players of the Year.
Not only successful on the court, but Krauth’s teams have also accomplished success in the classroom with 119 Academic All-Conference honorees and a trio of Academic All-Americans. Two student-athletes earned NCAA Postgraduate scholarships, Bridget Lindquist in 1991 and Heidi Morlock in 1994.
A win on Feb. 12, 2021, gave Krauth the unique milestone of 1,000 career wins when combining his nearly 350 high school wins with his more than 650 collegiate victories. He claimed the victory against his alma mater, Sioux Falls.
“I want to sincerely thank all of the players and assistant coaches who have been the heart and soul of our program over the years," Krauth said in a statement. "I thank our super fan base for the support at games and your financial support, a very important part of our program’s success. I’ve been blessed to work alongside so many wonderful, talented people and I wish you all the best.
“I’ll miss what has been such a huge part of me, but I also look forward to the next chapter of my life,” Krauth added. “I want to give my apologies to the countless others that I should thank for your support, but have not mentioned so far, along this journey. My focus is on this year’s squad. We’re working hard to be the best team we can be with a nice blend of veteran and younger players, and I know that together we can make the most of our opportunity.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Augustana basketball coach Dave Krauth to retire after 2022-23 season
