MINNEAPOLIS -- Drew Privette '89, an Augsburg University Athletic Hall of Famer who has spent the past 26 seasons as an assistant coach for the Auggie football team, is retiring from coaching and will transition into a new role as an administrative assistant within the athletic department, the university has announced.
 
In his new role, Privette will work with the athletic and health and physical education departments, while also continuing his current role as director of athletic concessions and merchandising. He will serve as Augsburg's staff liaison with the A-Club athletic alumni organization, and also assist in the coordination of Augsburg athletic special events, such as the Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony, the Auggie Awards celebration and the annual Clair Strommen/A-Club Golf Tournament.
 
"I've been extremely blessed to be at Augsburg and work with Auggie football my entire career, and to be able to continue my career at Augsburg means a lot to me," Privette said. "The players, coaches and staff that I've worked for and with during the last 26 years have been incredible."
 
Privette has spent nearly his entire adult life in the Augsburg athletic family. In 1992 joined the Augsburg football coaching staff as a receivers coach, and later moved to coach the Auggie quarterbacks. He added offensive coordinator duties to his coaching resume in 1999, and in that role, helped to develop Augsburg into one of the most dynamic passing offenses in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, as the Auggies consistently led the conference in most passing categories, while often ranking among the top passing teams in all of NCAA Division III football. He also served as assistant head coach for the Auggies in recent years.
 
Quarterbacks Derrin Lamker (1997) and Ayrton Scott (2015), and receivers Scott Hvistendahl (1998) and Royce Winford (2008) earned MIAC Most Valuable Player awards during Privette's coaching career, and Hvistendahl earned the Gagliardi Trophy (NCAA Division III Most Valuable Player) honors in 1999. In addition, Lamker (1997) and quarterback Jordan Berg (2008) were Gagliardi Trophy finalists. Privette coached Auggie athletes on offense that earned 25 All-West Region and 18 Division III All-American honors.
 
"The entire Augsburg community is eternally thankful, grateful and indebted to Drew Privette for the work and dedication he has put into the football program over the last quarter-century-plus," said Augsburg football Head Coach Frank Haege. "His work ethic and professionalism are unmatched. As the recruiting coordinator, he has made countless phone calls, visited with countless prospects, stayed in the office countless evenings and weekends, to bring in 40-plus first-years on a consistent basis. He also took care of buses, meals, ran our golf outing and oversaw the concessions at Augsburg. It takes a special work ethic and passion to accomplish what he did at Augsburg University. His energy and positive outlook are apparent in everything he does. Coach Privette's accomplishments on the field are also unmatched. Under his leadership as offensive coordinator, the Auggies have earned a reputation as one of the region's most exciting and high powered offenses. Coach Privette has been the catalyst behind the 'Air Auggie Spread Offense.' During that time, the Auggies finished as the No. 1 passing offense in the MIAC six of the last 11 years, and in the top three 10 of the past 11 years. Under coach Privette's leadership, the Auggies have been a respected and feared opponent for all MIAC foes. Drew has also built amazing relationships with the more than 1,000 student/athletes he has coached. I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work with a professional that is at the level of Drew Privette. I look forward to our continued friendship and partnership at Augsburg University."
 
As an athlete at Augsburg, Privette excelled in both football and men's hockey, earning All-MIAC honors twice in football (1987, 1988) and All-MIAC Honorable Mention honors twice in hockey (1986-87, 1988-89). As a wide receiver, he finished his career with 146 receptions for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns, and as a hockey forward, he finished with 24 goals and 28 assists for 52 points in 94 career games. Privette was inducted into the Augsburg Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
 
A native of Duluth, Minn., Privette earned his bachelor's degree from Augsburg in 1989. He and his wife, Molly, have a daughter, Anna, and live in St. Paul, Minn.