Augustana (South Dakota) Vikings

Augustana Vikings
Augustana Vikings
University	Augustana University
Conference	NSIC (primary); CCHA (men's ice hockey)
NCAA	Division II (primary); Division I (men's ice hockey)
Athletic director	Josh Morton
Location	Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Varsity teams	22 (10 men's, 12 women's)
Football stadium	Kirkeby–Over Stadium
Basketball arena	Elmen Center; Sanford Pentagon
Baseball stadium	Karras Park
Softball stadium	Bowden Field
Soccer stadium	Morstad Field
Other venues	Howard Wood Field; Sanford Gymnasium
Nickname	Vikings
Colors	Navy and gold;
Website	goaugie.com

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.

In December 2018 Augustana announced its intentions to transition to NCAA Division I by 2030 at the latest. However, they had hoped to receive a bid to join a conference by 2020, according to Sioux Falls newspaper The Argus Leader. 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. The conference moved its headquarters in 2018 to an office complex owned by Sanford.^[2]^[3] On May 22, 2020, the Summit League commissioner, Tom Douple, informed Augustana president Stephanie Herseth Sandlin that the conference would not be adding more new teams "at this time."^[4]

Varsity sports

List of teams

Men's sports

Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Tennis
Track & Field
Wrestling
Soccer (NIRSA)

Women's sports

Basketball
Cross Country
Golf
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track & Field
Volleyball

NCAA Division II National Championships

1991 – Softball
2011 – Women's Cross Country
2016 – Men's Basketball
2018 – Baseball
2019 – Softball

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^[5] 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 1964–1974), Bryan Schwartz (Jacksonville Jaguars 1995–1999), Corbin Lacina (1993–2003), Kevin Kaesviharn (2001–2009), and C. J. Ham (Minnesota Vikings 2016–present).^[6]

The Vikings have appeared in the NCAA Division II Playoffs 7 times. Their combined record is 2-7.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1988	First round	North Dakota State	L 7–49
1989	First round	St. Cloud State	L 20–27
2010	Second Round Quarterfinals	Grand Valley State Minnesota–Duluth	W 38–6 L 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 round Second Round	Minnesota State Colorado Mines	W 51-24 L 10-56

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.^[7] Led by Jansen, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference's Player of the Year,^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11] 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.^[12] Augustana's Arvid Kramer^[13]^[14]^[15]^[16] and Brett Szabo^[17] 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.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1975	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	Nebraska-Omaha Missouri—Rolla	L 61–69 W 71–64
1977	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	North Dakota Nebraska–Omaha	L 64–71 L 91–93
1978	Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Chapman Wisconsin–Green Bay	W 78–66 L 60–72
1986	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	Wayne State (MI) Eastern Montana	L 57–72 L 61–86
1988	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	Ferris State St. Cloud State	L 75–91 L 114–118 ^OT
1989	Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game	Wisconsin–Milwaukee Alaska–Fairbanks	L 95–99 W 112–107 ^OT
2008	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Minnesota State–Mankato Northern State	W 95–87 L 66–75
2009	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals	St. Cloud State Winona State Southwest Minnesota State	W 73–72 W 88–82 L 60–73
2010	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals	New Mexico Highlands Mesa State St. Cloud State	W 87–73 W 95–84 L 75–84 ^OT
2012	Regional Quarterfinals	Colorado Mines	L 69–82
2013	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Upper Iowa Winona State	W 79–65 L 65–77
2015	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Arkansas Tech Northwest Missouri State	W 104–77 L 65–66
2016	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four National Championship Game	Harding Nebraska–Kearney Northwest Missouri State Tarleton State Western Oregon Lincoln Memorial	W 100–85 W 77–67 W 80–78 W 86–79 W 74–55 W 90–81
2017	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Arkansas–Monticello Northwest Missouri State	W 76–69 L 53–74
2022	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Southwestern Oklahoma State Upper Iowa Northwest Missouri State	W 83–64 W 65–60 L 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.

Year	Round	Opponent	Result
1990	Regional semifinals	North Dakota	L 78–93
1991	Regional semifinals	North Dakota State	L 89–90
1992	Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Nebraska–Omaha North Dakota State	W 83–70 L 69–104
1993	Regional semifinals Regional Finals	North Dakota North Dakota State	W 79–67 L 82–91
1994	Regional First round Regional semifinals	Metro State North Dakota State	W 88–65 L 59–82
1997	Regional First round	Northern State	L 65–68
1999	Regional First round Regional semifinals	South Dakota State North Dakota	W 66–62 L 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 Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Minnesota–Duluth Fort Lewis	W 74–57 L 52–79
2012	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals	Colorado State–Pueblo Wayne State (NE)	W 82–76 L 40–63
2013	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals Elite Eight Final Four	Concordia–St. Paul Southwestern Oklahoma State Emporia State Clayton State Dowling	W 78–66 W 68–64 W 75–74 W 81–68 L 54–76
2018	Regional Quarterfinals Regional semifinals Regional Finals	Lindenwood Northern State Central Missouri	W 75–41 W 90–86 L 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.^[18]

Ice Hockey

On October 5, 2021 Augustana University announced that it will add men's ice hockey starting in the fall of 2023. The team will compete at the NCAA Division I level in the CCHA. The announcement was made at the groundbreaking ceremony for Midco Arena which will serve as the team's home.^[19]