RAPID CITY, S.D. --- South Dakota Mines Athletic Director Joel Lueken has announced the newest addition to the Hardrocker athletic staff.

Joe Stephens has been officially announced as the latest addition to the South Dakota Mines athletic department as the Director of Track & Field and Cross Country.
The previous director, Steve Johnson left for a position at Southern Nazarene University in March, leaving previous assistant coach Dan Haakenson to be named the interim director of track and field.

We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Stephens and his family to the Hardrocker Athletic family," said Lueken. "He brings a wealth of quality experience and knowledge of the region. Great things ahead for Hardrocker Track & Field and Cross Country."

Stephens has plenty of experience as a coach, being in the field for almost 20 years, most recently and currently working with Bethel University as the Head Cross Country and Assistant Track & Field coach, a position he has held since 2015.

Prior to the Division III position, Stephens had two stops at Division I institutions, most recently at the University of Wyoming from 2012-2015 where he was the recruiting coordinator and long-distance coach for the men's & women's track & field and cross country teams.

The first Division I tenure for Stephens was at Colorado State University where he was an assistant coach for the men's and women's track & field and cross country teams, spanning 2008-2012.

Location-wise, the Black Hills are no stranger to Stephens who spent three years (2005-07) as an assistant track & field and cross country coach while teaching.

His first position in collegiate coaching came as a graduate assistant at Fort Hays State University from 2003-2004. While coaching, he was also a member of the faculty.

Before joining the collegiate ranks, Stephens' first coaching position came in the fall of 2003 as an assistant cross country coach at Yankton High School in Yankton, S.D.

As a student-athlete, Stephens participated on the cross country and track teams at Oral Roberts University (2000-2001), Mount Marty College (2001-03), and one outdoor season at Fort Hays State (2004).

Stephens earned his bachelor's degree in recreation management from Mount Marty in 2003, and his master's degree in sports administration from Fort Hays State in 2004.
Joseph is married to his wife, Holly Stephens.

"I want to thank Joel Lueken and South Dakota Mines for the amazing opportunity to be a part of the Hardrocker family and this athletic department," said Stephens. "I am excited to begin a process of developing team culture and initiate growth within the track & field and cross country programs. This position represents an excellent fit for myself and my family. We have many personal connections in South Dakota and feel the state represents home for us. Professionally, I see great value in what South Dakota Mines offers and believe we can win here!"

Stephens will begin working in this position on June 22nd.

About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 11 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.