In Mark Stavenger’s 10th season as an assistant coach for the Vikings, he helped lead Augustana to a 29-4 record and win a share of the NSIC regular season title. The 29 wins is the most in program history and it’s the first time the Augie women have won the NSIC regular season crown.
With the help from Stavenger, the Vikings won the NSIC tournament for the first time since 2013 and made a Sweet-16 run in the NCAA Tournament.
Augustana scored 2,601 points in 2017-18, the fourth most points scored in a single season.
In Stavenger’s eighth season as an assistant coach of the Vikings, he helped lead Augustana to a 24-8 overall record and a 15-7 record in the NSIC. Augustana made a run to the NSIC Championship game after defeating MSU Moorhead in the quarterfinals and No. 8 Winona State in buzzer-beating fashion in the semis. The run propelled the Vikings to their first All-NSIC Tournament member in Sophie Kenney since 2013.
In 2015-16 Stavenger helped coach two All-NSIC performers, an NSIC All-Freshman team member and nine Academic All-NSIC members. Logan O’Farrell’s continued growth under the direction of Stavenger on the defensive end showed after winning NSIC Defensive Player of the Year and earning a spot on the NSIC all-defensive team.
In 2015-16 the Vikings found a myriad of success from behind the 3-point line, tying the single-season record for 3-pointers made at 278. They also shot the ball well from the charity stripe, with a season average of 77 percent, the third best single season mark.
Stavenger helped in the development of Shaunteva Ashley, who earned All-America first-team honors by numerous publications during the 2014-15 season. Augustana posted a 21-10 overall record with just one senior on the roster. The 21 wins marked the 10th time in 11 seasons that the Vikings won at least 20 games in a year.
Dave Krauth's top assistant played a big part in Augustana getting a school-record 28 wins during the 2012-13 season. Stavenger saw his efforts rewarded with Augustana winning its first conference tournament in team history that year and the Vikings also made their inaugural appearance in the Elite Eight in March.
In both roles as graduate assistant and assistant coach, Stavenger played an important part in scouting, recruiting and individual workouts with the team. He also plays in integral part in organizing camps within the Sioux Falls community.
Stavenger played one season of basketball at Augustana before suffering a career-ending shoulder injury at the conclusion of his freshman year. He graduated from Augustana with bachelor's degrees in exercise science and fitness management in December 2006.
Stavenger, who lives in Sioux Falls with his wife, Jenn, and two children, Ella and Nash, earned his master's degree in education from Augustana in 2009.
