Tim Huber has been named as the 19th head baseball coach at Augustana College, Augustana Director of Athletics Bill Gross announced today.

Huber replaces Dan Richards, who resigned after 2 seasons with the Vikings.

Huber is no stranger to Augustana or the Vikings’ new conference, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. He played collegiately at Minnesota State University, Mankato, and coached at Southwest Minnesota State University.

“We are extremely excited about the outstanding background that Tim brings to the Augustana baseball program,” Gross said. “He played at a top-notch program at Minnesota State and was an assistant coach at another quality program at Southwest Minnesota State. He then moved on and had a very successful 4-year career at Dakota County Technical College. He’s very familiar with the NSIC and the region. I feel that blend of experience will lend itself well with our program.”

According to Huber, he’s eager to begin his new job.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to join the Augustana family,” Huber said. “I’m pretty familiar with a lot of the guys on the team. There is a lot of talent here. I don’t think this is a rebuilding process. We can have some success right away if we work at it. With outstanding facilities, a strong commitment to athletics and academics and being a part of this great community, Augustana is a great school for players to come and play baseball.”

Huber comes to Augustana after 4 successful years as the head coach at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, Minn. In his 4 seasons, Huber posted a 98-71-1 record. The Blue Knights’ record improved each season under Huber’s guidance. After inheriting a team that went 5-30 the season before his arrival, Huber led the Blue Knights to a 19-20-1 record in 2005. He followed that by directing DCTC to a 23-17 record in 2006. The team finished fourth in the Minnesota Community College Conference and he was named the MCCC Southern Division Coach of the Year.

In 2007, Huber led DCTC to a 25-18 record before directing the Blue Knights to a 31-16 record in 2008. This season DCTC was ranked in the top 15 in the national rankings, finished third at the state tournament and advanced to the regional tournament. At regionals, the Blue Knights lost in the championship game, 1 win shy of advancing to the College World Series.

Prior to DCTC, Huber spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons as an assistant coach at Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, Minn. Working with the hitters and outfielders, SMSU led the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in batting average, hits, doubles, total bases and runs batted in during the 2003 season. Those totals all ranked among the top 3 single-season totals in SMSU history. As a result, 5 Mustang hitters were named to the All-NSIC Team while 2 others received honorable mention recognition.

In addition to his college coaching experience, Huber has 3 years of experience as a head legion baseball coach in West St. Paul, Minn., and Marshall.

Huber, an outfielder, enjoyed a stellar playing career at Minnesota State University, Mankato from 1997-2001. He was a two-time All-North Central Conference selection (1999 and 2001) and was an All-Central Region First Team selection in 2001. The Mavericks won the NCC title in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001.

Huber, a native of Belle Plaine, Minn., graduated from Minnesota State in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He earned a master’s degree in educational leadership with a physical education emphasis from Southwest Minnesota State in 2004.