Augustana men’s basketball head coach Cody Schilling has announced the hiring of Colton Kooima and Cade Stackpool as the team’s assistant coaches.
Kooima comes to Augustana from his alma mater of Northwestern College (IA) where he helped lead the Red Raiders to a 66-29 record with three NAIA National Tournament appearances in his three seasons. He helped lead Northwestern to a GPAC Regular Season Championship in 2023-24 the first in 11 seasons.
Prior to Northwestern, Kooima coached for two seasons at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. In 2020-21, he helped lead Vanguard University to a GSAC Regular Season Championship and qualify for the NAIA National Tournament.
An All-America honoree in his playing days at Northwestern, he finished his career as the second all-time leading scorer in Red Raider history. He earned First Team All-America accolades in both his junior and senior seasons while also being named the GPAC Player of the Year in 2018. He was the GPAC Freshman of the Year in 2015.
“We are extremely excited to have Coach Kooima joining our staff,” Schilling said. “He is a young, rising star in the coaching industry. His knowledge of the game, ability to develop players and his passion for growing young men on and off the floor will be noticed right away by Viking fans.
“He is a big time relationship guy, recruiter and a winner everywhere he has been. I am excited for Colton, his wife Jordyn and their son Calvin to officially be a part of the Augustana men’s basketball family.”
Stackpool, a former graduate assistant of Augustana men’s basketball, has spent the last five seasons coaching at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire. During his time with the Blugolds, the team won over 60 games including two conference semifinal and conference championship appearances. Stackpool not only achieved team success but also spearheaded the recruitment and development of three All-Region student athletes, in addition to numerous All-Conference recipients.
During the 2019-20 season, Stackpool helped the basketball program reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 19 years. The Blugolds opened the tournament with a 78-61 win over Whitman College (WA), but fell in the round of 32 to Saint John’s University (MN). UWEC was one of three WIAC teams to make the tournament after they knocked off UW-Platteville in the WIAC Championship semifinals. Five Blugold basketball players received All-WIAC honors during the historic season.
Prior to joining the Blugold staff, Stackpool served as a GA for the Vikings from 2017-2019. During his time on the staff, he earned his master’s degree in sports administration and leadership. The Vikings won the NSIC South Division in 2018-2019 while coaching the NSIC Freshman of the year and two All-NSIC athletes. He assisted with recruiting, team travel, player development and scouting.
“We are fired up about the addition of Coach Stackpool to our coaching staff,” Schilling said. “Cade was a graduate assistant coach here and over that time made an incredible impact on the men’s basketball program and Augustana campus.
“Coach Stackpool is an extremely hardworking coach who is a relentless recruiter. He is a winner with an extremely high IQ for the game of basketball. I’m excited to see him work with our guys and continue to push them towards excellence. Excited for Cade, his wife Kayli and their new baby Reggie to officially be a part of the Augustana men’s basketball family.”
Kooima, Stackpool added as Assistant Basketball Coaches at Augustana (SD)
