The Augustana women’s basketball team has found its head coach. Augustana Vice President for Athletics Josh Morton announced that Sioux Falls native Nate Vogel will be the next head coach of the Viking women’s basketball program.
A celebration and formal introduction of Vogel will take place Thursday, April 25, at 11:30 a.m. inside the University Welcome Center on Augustana’s campus. The gathering is open to the public.
Vogel arrives to Augustana after collecting a program-best 25-7 record at Texas A&M International, a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference in Laredo, Texas. He led the Dustdevils to their first ever national ranking, reaching No. 17 in the country, and their highest-ever regional ranking at No. 3. Vogel’s team was known for a swarming style of play, ranking in the top 10 nationally in turnovers forced per game, steals per game, assists per game, free throws made per game and scoring offense.
“I’m so excited to come home and lead the team I grew up cheering for as a little kid,” Vogel said. “To be able to bring my family back to Sioux Falls where my parents and most of my extended family still live is a dream come true.”
“I know how fortunate I am to have this job and am so excited to be the head coach at this great institution. Let’s get to work!”
His recruitment and development while at TAMIU included two All-Americans, 12 All-LSC honorees (four first team selections), and a conference defensive player of the year. Vogel became the head coach at TAMIU in 2019-20, inheriting an 0-27 squad from the previous season and one that had five total victories in the three seasons prior. What he was able to accomplish was program-changing, receiving votes or being ranked in the National Top 25 poll the last 4 seasons.
“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Vogel back to Sioux Falls, ” Morton said. “In a pool of terrific candidates, Nate stood out from the start. Not only is he a proven winner, but his care for student-athletes also shone through. The Sioux Falls community, the campus community, and most importantly our women’s basketball team and alumni will love having Coach Vogel as their head coach.”
Prior to his time in Laredo, Vogel spent two successful seasons as the head coach at Miles Community College (DI NJCAA) in Miles City, Mont. With only six weeks to build a program, Vogel led the Pioneers to a 25-8 record and an appearance in the NJCAA Region IX Tournament Final Four in his first season in 2018-19. In his second season, Vogel was named a finalist for NJCAA D1 National Coach of the Year after going 33-1 and taking the team to the national tournament.
In addition to his team’s success on the court, it was also successful in the classroom. This past season, TAMIU held a 3.7 team GPA. In two years at Miles, Vogel’s teams held grade point averages of 3.57 and 3.72, both top five marks in the nation. In total, Vogel coached 12 Academic All-Americans and 20 Academic All-Conference players.
In addition to Vogel’s work with his team on the court and in the classroom, he and his teams have always been heavily involved in the community, as “Service” is one of the pillars of his programs.
Vogel was also named the head coach of Team USA’s U19 women’s basketball team at the United World Games in Klagenfurt, Austria.
Before arriving at Miles Community College, Vogel spent one season as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Black Hills State University in Spearfish, S.D. At BHSU, he helped design and implement all game strategies and systems, recruiting and talent evaluation, practice organization, monitoring student-athlete conditioning and academic progress, and organizing travel accommodations and budget.
Prior to his stint at BHSU, Vogel served in multiple roles at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, over a two-year span. In his role as women’s basketball assistant and recruiting coordinator, he helped in designing and implementing all game strategies and systems, recruiting and talent evaluation, practice organization, and monitoring student-athlete conditioning and academic progress.
As the head strength and conditioning coach for both the men’s and women’s basketball programs, he helped coach both teams to appearances in the Elite 8 of the Great Lakes Valley Conference Tournament and coached multiple all-conference players. He also spent a season as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball program.
Vogel began his head coaching career at the high school level as he spent two years at the helm of the Lutheran High School of St. Charles County boy’s basketball program in St. Peters, Missouri.
Vogel got his start in coaching as an assistant coach at Spearfish High School where he helped lead the Spartans to the South Dakota State Final Four in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
As a player, Vogel was a four-year letter winner, three-year starter and team captain at BHSU. At BHSU, he led his team to a No. 2 ranking in the 1998-1999 season as well as an appearance in the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament. He also led his team to a Sweet 16 appearance his senior season in 2001-2002.
Vogel earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science from BHSU in 2002. He is married to his wife Tracie, and they have two children, daughter Cora and son Camden. He is a graduate of Sioux Falls O’Gorman High School, and played basketball under Augustana alumni Mike Begeman.
