RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota School of Mines Athletics Director Joel Lueken is pleased to announce the hiring of Cassie Kosiba as the Hardrockers' new Associate Athletic Director of Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator.
"We are extremely anxious and excited to have Cassie join Hardrocker Athletics," Lueken said. "I have no doubt that Cassie will do an amazing job. She has an extensive background in college athletics as both player and coach. Cassie is highly motivated, extremely organized and her leadership abilities will allow us to maintain the high standard that our scholar-athletes and supportive fans are accustom to at Hardrocker athletic events. We would like to welcome Cassie, her husband Chris and son Calvin to the Hardrocker Family."
Kosiba will begin her duties on Aug. 1 taking over the position from Tiffany McCampbell who resigned from the position at the beginning of May. Kosiba will have a variety of jobs that make up the day-to-day operations of the SD Mines Athletics Dept.
"My family and I are excited to be joining the Hardrocker Family and to start exploring Rapid City and the beautiful Black Hills," Kosiba said. "Throughout my career, I have taken pride in working at high academic institutions that develop leaders and foster academic and personal exploration. South Dakota School of Mines does that and more. I want to thank Joel Lueken and his entire leadership team for the opportunity to join such a committed group of scholar athletes, coaches, administrators and alumni."
Kosiba comes to SD Mines after service nine years as the women's basketball head coach at Carleton College (NCAA Div. III) in Northfield, Minnesota. She returned to her alma mater after serving four years as an assistant coach at the NCAA Div. I level, spending two seasons as an assistant with the women's basketball program at Long Island University's (LIU) Brooklyn campus.
At Long Island, Kosiba served as recruiting coordinator, compliance liaison, and academic advisor; she was also responsible for scouting, player development and supervising the other assistant coaches and the director of operations.
Prior to joining the Long Island staff in July 2008, Kosiba had a two-year stint on the bench at Manhattan College (N.Y.), where she served as offensive coordinator in addition to recruiting, scouting, player development, and academic advisor duties.
A 2003 graduate of Carleton with a bachelor's degree in gender studies, Kosiba enjoyed a successful basketball career, contributing to a 2000-01 team that went 22-5 and won the Knights' first conference championship. That squad also secured the program's initial trip to the NCAA Division III tournament.
The next year she began a two-year stint on Metcalf-Filzen's coaching staff, helping the Knights break school records each year, including a 25-3 mark in '02-'03. Both squads captured Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament titles and culminated their seasons with trips to the NCAA Championships.
Kosiba also had a record-setting two-year career as a volleyball player at Carleton, donning the maize and blue in 2000 and 2001. During a September 2001 contest, she established the NCAA mark with 15 services aces in a single match.
After leaving Carleton, she joined the coaching staff at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Mass.) and spent three seasons as the Engineers' top basketball assistant, with duties that also included serving as the program's recruiting coordinator and strength and conditioning coach. The recruits she attracted to WPI posted the school record for victories their final year. She was also tabbed interim head volleyball coach in 2006.
Kosiba is a native of Spring Grove, Minn.
