Augustana director of athletics Slade Larscheid announced today that Lindsie Micko has been named the first head coach of Viking women's swimming.
"Lindsie is an excellent fit for Augustana and the women's swimming program," Larscheid said. "She brings a wealth of experience and has strong ties to our community. With Lindsie's leadership and guidance, we are excited to build the program for future Viking student-athletes."
Augustana athletics announced the addition of women's swimming as its 19th varsity sport on April 21. Micko will begin her duties at Augustana on Sept. 1 and will lead her team into competition during the 2016-17 academic year.
"I am extremely honored to be named the first women's swimming coach at Augustana," Micko said. "I would like to thank President Oliver, Slade Larscheid and the search committee for having the confidence in me to build and lead the swimming program."
Micko, a native of Brookings, S.D., has spent the last four years as the head age group coach with the First Colony Swim Team in Sugar Land, Texas. With the First Colony Swim Team, Micko oversaw 9-14 year-old swimmers for a gold medal swim club, including the management of staff, coaching of two groups and the development of an IMX program. During her time with the first Colony Swim Team, she was nominated for Gulf Swimming Age Group Coach of the Year and coached athletes to multiple USA Swimming Top 10 performances. She was also a member of the USA Swimming Age Group Development Committee.
From 2008-12, she was the senior team coach and head age group coach for the Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club in Houston, Texas where she coached two relay teams that were ranked No. 1 in the country and several USA Top 10 individual swimmers. Micko led the Cypress Fairbanks Swim Club to Gold Medal Status as one of the top teams in the country. She was responsible for the day-to-day coaching of high-level swim group with swimmers ranging from 13-18 years-old as well as staff training, mentoring and administrative duties of a 400-plus member club.
"With many swimming programs being cut across the country, it is exciting to be able to be a part of a brand new program," Micko said. "I truly believe the swimming program can be extremely successful with great students, great athletes and great people at Augustana. It is an exciting time for the sport of swimming and the Augustana community."
Micko led the Sioux Falls Swim Team during two stints from 1999-2001 and again from 2004-08 where she led numerous state championship teams and USA Top 10 individuals. She helped coach athletes from state championships to Olympic trials and was twice named coach of the year. In between her time with the Sioux Falls Swim Team, Micko spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of New Mexico where she was responsible for the recruitment of student-athletes at the Division I level and day-to-day workouts.
Micko graduated from South Dakota State University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in HPER with an emphasis in fitness and wellness and was also a three-year letterwinner for the SDSU swimming and diving team.
Augustana swimming will compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The NSIC announced on April 21 that it will sponsor swimming & diving in 2016-17 with the addition of swimming programs at Augustana, U-Mary and Sioux Falls. The three schools join Minnesota State, Mankato, MSU Moorhead, Northern State and St. Cloud State forming a seven-team league.
Located in Sioux Falls, S.D., Augustana College is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
