News Archives - 2007

Augsburg College wrestling head coach Jeff Swensonannounced on Tuesday, March 7 that he is resigning his coaching post in order to focus on his responsibilities as the school's Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation.

Swenson, a 1979 Augsburg graduate, has served as head coach of the Auggies for 25 seasons (1980-84, 1986-2007), building the squad into a national small-college wrestling powerhouse. Under Swenson's leadership, Augsburg has won a record-10 NCAA Division III national championships and produced a career dual-meet record of 321-44 (.879 winning percentage).

Sam Barber, who has served as an assistant coach on Swenson's staff for six seasons, will take over head coaching duties for the Auggies. Barber has served as associate head coach for the last two seasons. A 1995 Upper Iowa University graduate, he served as head coach for the Peacocks in the 1999-2000 season. During his Augsburg tenure, Barber has been a part of three national championship squads and two national runner-up squads, and has coached 46 All-Americans and 13 individual national champions. He was named Division III Co-National Assistant Coach of the Year by the National Wrestling Coaches Association in 2006.

In his role as Assistant Dean for Athletics and Recreation as a member of President Paul C. Pribbenow's staff, Swenson supervises the 18-sport Augsburg intercollegiate athletics program, the athletic facilities department, and the college's intramural athletic program. Swenson was named to the position on an interim basis in 2001, and his posting was made permanent in 2004.

"I look forward to working with Coach Swenson in the years ahead as we partner to make Augsburg one of the finest examples of NCAA Division III athletics in the country -- a college that honors the connections between academics and athletics, that celebrates both sportsmanship and competition, and that helps our students to grow as individuals and teammates," Pribbenow said. "I can think of no one better than Jeff Swenson to lead us in this vision for intercollegiate athletics at Augsburg College. His track record speaks for itself. His love for the college is unparalleled. And he has the passion, commitment and skills to guide our athletics programs into a bright future."

Photo by Caleb Williams