MINNEAPOLIS – Kathryn Knippenberg, who established Minnesota's first collegiate varsity women's lacrosse program at Augsburg University and guided it as head coach for its first 10 seasons, has announced her resignation from the position, it was announced on Friday.
 
Knippenberg joined the Augsburg athletic family when the university announced its addition of women's lacrosse as a varsity sport in 2012, becoming the first college or university in Minnesota to sponsor the sport on the varsity level. The team played its first season in 2014, and joined the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference in 2016. Augsburg reached the MWLC postseason playoffs in five of the team's seven full seasons in the conference.
 
"Building the program and setting the legacy for Augsburg lacrosse has been an incredible experience," Knippenberg said. "This is a job of relationships, which makes it that much more challenging to leave your players, your co-coaches, and your co-workers. I have been blessed to have this position, and will always bleed maroon. Go Auggies!"
 
She guided the Auggies to double-digit win totals in four straight seasons (2016-19), reaching the MWLC playoff title game in the 2018 season. Under Knippenberg, the Auggies went 69-77 overall in its first 10 seasons, including a 42-22 record in MWLC play.
 
A total of 87 players have played for Augsburg under Knippenberg's leadership. Augsburg players have earned All-MWLC honors 33 times, with two players earning MWLC Player of the Year honors – Marissa Guillou (defense, 2018) and Helena Nguyen (attacker, 2018). Christina Nelson earned Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association All-Great Lakes Region honors twice (first team in 2019, second team, 2018), with Guillou earning all-region honors in 2018. Auggies have earned MWLC Athlete of the Week honors 19 times in program history.

"She was a true pioneer in helping us start the first women's lacrosse program in Minnesota," said Augsburg Athletic Director Jeff Swenson. "We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude, for the success of our first decade of women's lacrosse at Augsburg. We wish her the best in her future."
 
Academically, Augsburg has had 20 selections to the IWLCA's Division III Academic Honor Roll since 2014, and has earned the IWLCA Academic Honor Squad award, with team GPAs of 3.2 or better, eight times. Two Auggies have earned College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors, and Auggies have earned 81 MWLC All-Academic honors.
 
A 2008 graduate of the University of Minnesota, Knippenberg coached girls' lacrosse at the Academy of Holy Angels for four seasons before coming to Augsburg.