Bubba Schweigert has developed a nice pattern through his first three seasons as the head coach at North Dakota. Each year his squad has produced more positive results than the previous one and 2016 was no exception as he was named the Big Sky and FCS Region 5 Coach of the Year.
The Fighting Hawks shared the Big Sky Conference regular season title with Eastern Washington, reeled off a 9-game winning streak and earned the No. 7 overall seed in the Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs in 2016.
After losing the first two games of the season by a combined four points, a double-overtime victory against South Dakota launched UND into Big Sky play where the Fighting Hawks ran the table. There were tight games and lobsided games, but his team always found a way to come out on top in league play and give UND its first undefeated conference record since Dale Lennon's 2003 squad went 7-0 in North Central Conference play.
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Paul Rudolph will begin his fourth season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UND in 2017.
After showing marked improvement from year one to year two, Rudolph's unit continued to progress into a well-rounded attack in 2016 that helped the Fighting Hawks win the Big Sky Championship and earn the program's first Division I FCS Playoff berth. The 355 total points (29.6 ppg) were the second most for the Fighting Hawks at the DI era.
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Former UND linebacker Eric Schmidt will embark on his fourth season as his alma mater's defensive coordinator in 2017. His unit has made quite the impression in the Big Sky during his first three seasons directing the defense.
UND has led the league in rushing defense each of those seasons and has ranked among the top two in total defense as well.
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Shawn Kostich is set to begin his fourth season with the North Dakota football program as the special teams coordinator and tight ends and fullbacks coach.
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The 2017 season will be for the first for Malcolm Agnew as the running backs coach at the University of North Dakota. Agnew's addition rounded out the coaching staff for the upcoming season.
Agnew will inherit a position unit that had a pair of All-Big Sky performers in 2016.
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Former North Dakota quarterback Danny Freund is back for his seventh season on his alma mater's coaching staff and will coach the wide receivers for the fourth-straight season in 2017. Freund previously coached the UND running backs (2011-12) and quarterbacks (2013).
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Luke Knauf is set to begin his fourth season as the offensive line coach at UND in 2017. Knauf's line has helped UND put together back-to-back seasons with more than 2,500 rushing yards.
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Joel Schwenzfeier will embark on his fifth season as an assistant coach at his alma mater in 2017. After working with the running backs during the 2013 season, Schwenzfeier transitioned back to the side of the ball where he starred for UND and will work with the outside linebackers for his fourth-straight season.
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Travis Stepps will begin his second season at the University of North Dakota in 2017 after churning out a pair of All-Americans during his first campaign in Grand Forks. The Fighting Hawks' defensive backs coach saw juniors Cole Reyes (safety) and Deion Harris (cornerback) collect the honors after helping UND record 20 interceptions in 2016 -- a total that tied for second in the FCS.
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Audrey Rambough enters her ninth year as an assistant athletic trainer at her alma mater and second season working directly with the football team. She has previously worked with the track and field, tennis and golf teams during her time at UND. Rambough is also an instructor in the Division of Sports Medicine.
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Nate Baukol is in his ninth season as North Dakota's director of strength and conditioning and 13th overall at UND. In May of 2015, he was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the CSCCa, which is the highest honor in his profession.
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Travis Kahlbaugh, in his seventh season at UND, serves as the head equipment manager for North Dakota Athletics. Kahlbaugh is a 2000 graduate of the University of North Dakota with a bachelor's degree in physical education and teaching and learning. Before coming to UND, he spent the previous four years teaching in Grand Forks and Rugby, N.D.
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