RAPID CITY, S.D. – South Dakota Mines has announced that Athletic Director Joel Lueken left the university to pursue other professional interests.

Lueken joined South Dakota Mines in 2014 and led the institution's transition to its first NCAA Division II conference membership when joining the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2016-2017. During his tenure, athletic scholarship funding and ticket revenue have increased, major improvements have been made to athletic facilities, and he developed an ongoing partnership with Monument Health that provides vital services to the scholar-athletes.

"I want to thank Joel for his dedicated and exceptional service to South Dakota Mines over the last decade," said President Jim Rankin, PhD PE. "We all wish him and his family the best in their next chapter."

"I'm proud of what we have accomplished at South Dakota Mines over the last 10 years," said Lueken. "The growth South Dakota Mines has seen would not have happened without the support of university administration and dedicated alumni. While my family and I are excited for new challenges, it will always be a great day to be a Hardrocker."

Senior Associate Athletic Director of Internal Operations/Senior Women's Administrator Cassie Kosiba has been appointed interim athletic director. The university will begin its search for a new athletic director immediately. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
 
About South Dakota Mines
Founded in 1885, South Dakota Mines is one of the nation's leading engineering, science and technology universities. South Dakota Mines offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a best-in-class education at an affordable price. The university enrolls 2,492 students with an average class size of 24. The South Dakota Mines placement rate for graduates is 98 percent, with an average starting salary of $70,036. For these reasons South Dakota Mines is ranked among the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.
 
South Dakota Mines is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The RMAC 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.