Mark Beinborn has been on the Augustana women's basketball staff for four seasons. Augustana athletics photo

Mark Beinborn has been hired as the new head women’s basketball coach at Augustana, it was announced today. Beinborn, who has been an assistant for the Vikings since 2008, will slide over one spot on the bench next year as he replaces Bobbi Endress, who resigned on Feb. 27.

Endress ended a six-year stint as Augustana’s head coach after the Vikings turned in an 11-14 record in 2011-12, the most wins by the Blue and Gold since a 15-9 campaign in 2003-04. Her overall record at Augustana was 37-113 in six seasons.

“I am extremely proud and happy to be the new head women’s basketball coach at Augustana,” said Beinborn. “This is a program where the ground work has been laid. The players are on board and I am thrilled with this opportunity to lead them. Augustana is a great school and we are looking forward to taking the next step.”

Beinborn has been the junior varsity coach for the Vikings the last two years, compiling an 8-3 record in 2011-12 and a 7-5 mark in 2010-11. He reunited with Endress in June of 2008 after serving as her assistant at Edgewood in Madison, Wis., from 2004 until 2006. He was the assistant men’s coach at Edgewood from 2006 through 2008 before taking the position at Augustana.

Augustana athletic director Mike Zapolski said, “working through the search progress, it became clear that our women’s basketball program needed a strong personality at the top – someone who was decisive, genuine, passionate and willing to work hard to build relationships with a wide range of prospects.”

Zapolski was impressed with Beinborn throughout the process and it was clear that he stood out amongst the candidates. “We had some strong, credible candidates involved in the on-campus interview process, and in the final analysis there was consensus that Mark’s background and skill set was the best match. I look forward to working with Mark to build our women’s basketball program into a College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin contender.”

Beinborn is a 1998 graduate of Dubuque with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He is scheduled to receive a master's in human services from Liberty this May. He was a two-time all-conference performer in the Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic conference while playing at Dubuque, where he was a two-time team captain. While at Dubuque he twice won the Student Leadership Award.

“I think I knew I wanted to be a college head coach from the time I started playing basketball,” said Beinborn. “I love working with kids and I believe in making it a family atmosphere.