SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Augustana Vice President for Athletics Josh Morton has announced the return of Sydney Smith as the Director of Athletics Communications as Nick Rappuhn was also promoted within the Vikings' athletics communications office. 

Smith returns to the department after a year in Grand Forks, N.D., as a sports communications specialist for North Dakota. She led the communications efforts for the women's soccer, women's basketball, men's and women's tennis and track and field teams during her tenure with the Fighting Hawks while assisting when necessary with volleyball, cross country and football. 

Prior to her time with North Dakota, Smith spent the 2024-25 season as an Assistant Director of Communications with Augustana University and served as the primary contact for women's volleyball, women's basketball, wrestling, softball and track and field. She spearheaded coverage of the AU wrestling's 2025 National Runners-Up squad & individual national champion while managing social coverage and media relations for her five sports. 

Smith also spent three seasons as a communications intern at South Dakota State. She was the primary contact for the track and field and cross country programs and was also able to work on-site at two March Madness Men's Basketball Tournaments and an NCAA Softball Tournament. 

The Redfield, S.D.-native graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Journalism from South Dakota State in December 2022 with minors in Communications Studies and Political Science. 

Rappuhn was also promoted within the communications office to Assistant Athletics Director for Communications and is currently kicking off his fourth year with the Vikings.