Marc Kurtz
Marc Kurtz continues to take the women’s program to new levels. In 2011, in just his third year as head coach, the Vikings advanced to the NCAA round of 16 for the first time in school history.
Augustana successfully defended its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crown and defeated Nebraska-Kearney to earn a place on the national stage. The Vikings now have won 21 consecutive conference matches, going unbeaten over the last two seasons
At the conclusion of the 2011 campaign, Augustana was listed 28th in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association national rankings. It is the highest national ranking in program history.
Throughout the season Augustana was ranked No. 1 in the Central Region. Brittany Gaster and Katie Jesperson were listed No. 8 and 10, respectively, in the final regional individual rankings. As a doubles team, Gaster and Jesperson were ranked fifth. Hannah Gebauer and Michelle Wadas were ranked 10th in region doubles.
Gaster was voted NSIC Senior of the Year and joined Jesperson on the All-NSIC first team. And, for the second straight year, Kurtz was named NSIC Coach of the Year. The Vikings were 21-3 for the season and 11-0 in league play. Augustana has a 42-5 record over the last two seasons.
The 2011 conference championship was the second for Augustana since the Vikings claimed the North Central Conference crown in 1982. The 21 wins tied the program single-season record set a year ago.
Kurtz begins his seventh season as head coach of the Augustana men’s team. The Vikings were 3-11 in 2011. The NSIC does not sponsor men’s tennis.
In addition to coaching at Augustana, Kurtz is the tennis director at Sioux Empire Fitness in Sioux Falls, where he is a certified tennis professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA). Last fall he served as a co-coach of the Sioux Empire Fitness Lobsters, runners-up at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Junior Team Tennis National Championships in Surprise, Ariz. During the summer months he serves as the tennis director at Minnehaha Country Club.
Kurtz earned four letters competing in tennis in the top three single positions and top two doubles for Montana State Billings. His high school career at Miles City, Mont., included team MVP honors as a junior and senior. Following his senior year he was chosen to play for a U.S. junior team, competing against a British squad during Wimbledon.
He earned his bachelor’s degree at MSUB with majors in business management and marketing.
