SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana athletic event manager Don Pierson has announced his retirement, effective July 31. Pierson spent 38 years serving Augustana, 27 years with the football program and 11 within the athletic department. 

"It has been an honor to work here the last 37+ years at Augustana," said Pierson. "Seeing the development of both the campus and athletic atmosphere has been truly remarkable and I can't thank the University enough for giving me the opportunity to work here as long as I was able to. Seeing the growth in athletic success that Augustana has achieved since I started coaching here was something I will always remember being a small part of." 
 
Over the last 11 years, He held the responsibility for athletics event management and game operations for the athletic department. Pierson was also in charge of coordinating with visiting teams and workers, hotel accommodations for recruit visits and facility set-up on top of many other things. 

In 2012 he was the Vikings' special teams' coordinator and defensive line coach. The previous season, Augustana led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in rushing defense and was second in total defense. The 2010 team set a school record for wins (11) and led the conference in defending the rush and total defense.

From 2009-2011 Pierson coached five All-NSIC players on the defensive line, including Ben Wardell, who was chosen to the 2011 Don Hansen Division II All-Super Region third team. Defensive tackle Brady Maclver was selected to the 2010 All-NSIC first team defensive unit and accepted an invitation to play in the Cactus Bowl.

Pierson also coached Austin Flyger, the North Central Conference's most valuable defensive lineman in 2003. In addition to his coaching duties, Pierson was the home event manager for men's and women's basketball.

"It's impossible to summarize the work and the impact that Don has had on Augustana Athletics," said Vice President for Athletics Josh Morton. "He has been a fixture at Viking events for decades and while our fans got to see him during the games, they likely didn't know the countless hours that went into making the Augustana gameday experience special well before the gates opened and well after they closed. On behalf of Augustana we are so grateful to Don and wish him the best of luck in retirement."  

A 1983 graduate of Dakota Wesleyan University, Pierson coached football at Nebraska-Kearney and Southwest Minnesota State prior to joining the Augustana staff.

Pierson and his wife, Shelly, have two children, Tyler and Emilee.