SIOUX FALLS --- Augustana University today announced that Slade Larscheid has decided to step down as director of athletics in order to spend more time with his family and pursue other opportunities.
Larsheid was hired in March of 2014 to replace Bill Gross, the former Augie basketball coach who spent 28 years as A.D.
The Spearfish native came from Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls, where he was athletics/activities director. Prior to that, he was an accomplished fund raiser as Justin Sell's associate athletics director at South Dakota State from 2011-13.
New Augustana President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, who took over for retiring Rob Oliver in September, thanked Larsheid for his vision and commitment.
“Under Slade’s leadership, Augustana athletics has reached new heights,” Herseth Sandlin said.
“Slade played a vital role in ensuring Augustana’s tradition of academic excellence among our student-athletes continued. He oversaw major athletic fundraising endeavors, managed the dedication of new athletic facilities and ushered in unprecedented success for our programs, including the 2016 men’s basketball NCAA DII national championship. Additionally, he was instrumental in helping to develop and launch women’s swimming as Augustana’s 19th varsity sport.
“We thank Slade for his service and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
The status quo among the major sports of football and basketball remained in tact in Larsheid's four years. Gross hired current football coach Jerry Olzsweski two years before Larsheid arrived, with the assistance of a panel of more than a dozen university officials and students.
Olzsweski is 31-25 in his five seasons and led the Vikings to nine wins and the Div. II playoffs in his third season before narrowly missing the postseason with an 8-3 campaign in 2016.
Men's basketball coach Tom Billeter and women's basketball coach Dave Krauth already had consistent 20-win, NCAA tournament-qualifying teams when Larsheid came aboard and continued to deliver during his time, including a 2016 men's national championship.
Larsheid hired volleyball coach Jennifer Jacobs in 2017 to manage a well-established winning program cpoming off a 27-6 season in which the Vikings qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in eight years. Jacobs's first team went 23-9 and narrowly lost to No. 3 Southwest Minnesota State in the NSIC tournament semifinal.
Larscheid said the opportunity to serve Augustana was an honor.
“I am extremely proud of the successes in the classroom, in competition and in the community. I personally want to thank our student-athletes, coaches and staff, as well as the senior leadership of the University, for their support. I will forever cherish the relationships made here and wish Viking athletics a great future,” he said.
Larscheid’s last day will be Friday, Jan. 26. Details on the appointment of an interim director of athletics, as well as plans for a national search, will be announced soon.
He has not returned KWSN's invitation for an interview as of this posting.