E-Mail Coach BarkusBrandon Barkus was named the new head women’s soccer coach at Augustana College on January 20, 2006.
Barkus, who spent the past two seasons as the goalkeeper coach at the University of Minnesota, becomes the third head women’s soccer coach in the Vikings’ six-year history.
“We are extremely excited to have a person with Brandon’s qualifications and experience join us as our new head women’s soccer coach at Augustana College,” Director of Athletics
Bill Gross said. “We are confident that Brandon’s coaching and recruiting abilities will move the Augie women’s soccer program forward to a high level of competitiveness in the North Central Conference and NCAA Division II.”
In addition to his head coaching duties, Barkus will also serve as an instructor in the Augustana HPER department.
“I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to come in and work with a program at such a great academic institution,” Barkus said. “All of the components are here to have a successful program. I am looking forward to this opportunity.”
Barkus inherits a program that has a six-year record of 24-85-3. In 2005, the Vikings posted a 3-15-1 record.
“We are going to play hard, intense and determined with a ‘we’re going to outwork everyone mentality,’” Barkus said of what fans can expect to see out of the Vikings’ style of play in 2006. “You can expect to see an organized defense along with flair and creativity on the attack.”
In his two seasons at Minnesota, Barkus helped goalkeeper Molly Schneider compile two of the most successful seasons in Golden Gopher history. Schneider posted five shutouts in 2004, the most by a Golden Gopher goalkeeper since 2000. She followed that by recording 7 shutouts in 2005 while earning All-Big Ten Conference First Team honors as well as Soccer Buzz Great Lakes All-Region Second Team accolades. In addition, Minnesota also cut its goals-against-average from a Big Ten-worst 2.38 in 2003 to 1.43 in 2004 to a school-record 0.84 in 2005. Schneider allowed fewer than 2 goals in 16 out of 19 games in 2005, ending her career at Minnesota with a school-record 1.12 career goals against average.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity for Brandon and his family at Augustana,” Minnesota head coach
Mikki Denney Wright said. “Augustana made an outstanding hire. He is a wonderful person and a tremendous coach, and I have no doubt he will build a great soccer program at Augustana.”
Before joining the Golden Gopher staff on Feb. 3, 2004, Barkus spent three years (2000-02) as head coach of the women's soccer team at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan.
Prior to taking over the women's program, he was an assistant coach for the Baker men's soccer team. Barkus also served as club director at the Olathe Soccer Club for seven years and was the head coach of the Kansas Olympic Development Program from 1995-2003.
Barkus has earned his USSF "A" license and his USSF National Youth License. He has also collected the NSCAA Advanced National diploma and the NSCAA Level II Goalkeeping diploma.
Barkus, an Omaha, Neb., native, began his coaching career by serving as head coach of the varsity boys' soccer team at Atchison (Kan.) High School from 1995-98. He was named Kansas Coach of the Year in 1998.
As a player, Barkus was a two-time honorable mention All-American goaltender at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. He was also a two-time team captain and three-year starter for the Ravens. Barkus earned a bachelor's degree in education from Benedictine in 1995.
After his hiring at Minnesota, Barkus quickly became a part of the Minnesota Soccer community. He served on the MYSA ODP staff and was the head coach of the Woodbury U13 Girls' Premier Team.
Barkus and his wife,
Jennifer, have two daugthers,
Jillian (5) and
Sierra (3).
