Dean Bowyer joined the Augustana coaching staff on a volunteer basis in 2019 after coaching collegiately for 36 years previously. He will work primarily with infielders for the Vikings but brings with himself a wealth of knowledge that will impact the entire team..
In 2022, the Vikings held an overall record of 47-13-1 and a conference record of 31-5. Augustana defeated Minnesota State to win the NSIC regular season championship. The Vikings finished second at the NSIC tournament to earn a berth to the NCAA Central Region Tournament. AU went 3-1 at the Central Region Tournament, moving on to the NCAA Super Regional.
Bowyer helped guide the Vikings to a 36-13 record in 2021 en route to a second-place finish in the NSIC standings and tournament in addition to a berth at the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
Bowyer helped guide the 2020 Vikings to a 9-4 record in which the season was cut short due to COVID-19.
Bowyer also helped guide the 2019 squad to a 43-16 record, NSIC regular season championship, NSIC tournament championship and NCAA Central Regional Championship.
Coach Bowyer built a career record of 1064-538-7 in his 36 years as a collegiate baseball coach - 32 years at Minnesota State (formerly Mankato State) and four years at Minot State. At the time of his retirement from college coaching in 2008 his 1064 wins ranked fifth on the all-time NCAA Div. II list.
Under Bowyer, Minnesota State baseball teams played in NCAA postseason competition 21 out of his 32 years with the Mavericks and his teams won at least 30 games in 22 out of those same 32 years.
During Bowyer's 32-year tenure in Mankato included a total of 22 league championships - three when Minnesota State was in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (NIC) and an incredible 19 in the North Central. MSU made it to the NCAA postseason tournament 21 times under his tenure and three of those teams made it all the way to the NCAA Division II College World Series (1979, 1980 and 1986). Bowyer was named North Central Conference Coach of the Year 11 times during his career.
Bowyer helped produce three All-America selections and many all-region and all-conference picks during his MSU career. A total of 26 MSU players coached by Bowyer were selected in the Major League Baseball draft and 46 Bowyer-produced players signed professional contracts. Two former Mavericks who played for Bowyer advanced to the major leagues. Pitcher Todd Revenig, who was drafted and signed with Oakland in 1990, debuted with the parent A's in 1992 and reliever Gary Mielke was drafted by Texas and had a stint with the Rangers from 1987 through 1990.
An NSIC and American Baseball Coaches’ Association (ABCA) Hall of Fame inductee and a recipient of the NCC Legacy Award, Bowyer was inducted into the Minnesota State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
Coach Bowyer and his wife, Cheri, reside in Sioux Falls. The Bowyer’s have two children, Shane (wife Laura, son Austin, daughter Gabrielle) and Deana (husband Jerry, son Jett, daughter Jersey). Bowyer’s granddaughter Gabrielle is on the AU women’s soccer team, and his son-in-law is Augie Head Football Coach Jerry Olszewski.
