MANKATO, Minn. – Bethany Lutheran College (BLC) announced that Adie Harstad will return as the Vikings head tennis coach.

Harstad is no stranger to being courtside for Bethany, as he served as the head tennis coach from 1992-2012.

"We're really excited to have Adie back coaching at Bethany," said Co-Athletic Director Ryan Kragh. "He understands our mission as a school and we look forward to watching his teams exemplify that on the court and around campus."

A graduate of Northwestern College in Watertown, Wisconsin, which eventually combined with Martin Luther College (MLC), Harstad went on to earn a master's degree in theology from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. He also earned a second master's degree in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Harstad served as a parish pastor in Alma, Michigan, and Escondido, California, as well as spending six years as a missionary in Zambia before coming to Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in 1991 as a professor. He taught at the seminary from 1991 to 2019 when he retired.

Harstad currently lives in North Mankato, Minnesota, with his wife Helen. They have three grown, married children; Christopher, Derek, and Karina Clennon who is a professor in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling graduate program at Bethany Lutheran College.