SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Joe Schaefer has been elevated to assistant coach after serving two seasons as a graduate assistant for Augustana cross country/track & field. 

Schaefer worked with long sprints and middle distance as a graduate assistant and was also on the cross country staff. In his two seasons, Schaefer helped guide the men's and women's cross country programs to three NSIC titles and a 2024 Women's Central Region crown. He also helped develop Ryan Hartman, a 2024 men's national runner-up.

Schaefer, a native of Grimes, Iowa, joined the Vikings in 2023 and is a 2022 graduate of Iowa State, where he was a member of the track and cross country programs. 

While a member of the Cyclones, Schaefer excelled in the classroom, earning Academic All-American honors in 2021, and was a two-time academic All-Big 12 First Team member. 

Schaefer earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Iowa State and MBA from Augustana.