Gretta Melsted, the head coach who led Augustana to a national championship in 2019, has announced her resignation to take the same position at the University of Minnesota. After 20 impactful seasons, she leaves behind a legacy that includes eight conference titles, six NSIC tournament victories, and 14 NCAA Tournament appearances. Melsted expressed her deep gratitude to the Augustana community, emphasizing her dedication to the program and student-athletes. Her tenure boasts an impressive overall record of 813 wins to 313 losses, and she is widely regarded as a transformative figure in the program's history.

By the Numbers
  • 813-313 overall coaching record.
  • Eight regular season conference titles and six NSIC tournament titles.
  • 14 NCAA Tournament appearances and 4 DII National Championship appearances.
  • Coached 26 All-Americans and 11 Academic All-Americans.
State of Play
  • The search for Melsted’s successor at Augustana is set to begin immediately.
  • Over the last nine seasons, the Vikings have made the NCAA Tournament eight times.
What's Next

With Melsted's departure, the focus will shift to the national search for a new head coach. Potential candidates will need to match Melsted's success and build on a strong foundation laid over the last two decades.

Bottom Line

Melsted’s resignation marks the end of a remarkable era for Augustana softball, leaving a legacy of success and a challenging opportunity for her successor to continue the program’s impressive trajectory.