The Official Site of Augsburg University Athletics

Keith Barnier, who has led several track and field programs to prominence at all three NCAA levels, was named as head coach for Augsburg University's men's and women's track and field programs in July 2018.
 
Before coming to Augsburg, Barnier served as head coach for the track and field and cross country programs at Abilene Christian University (Texas), where he successfully led the Wildcats, winners of 58 NCAA Division II and NAIA individual national titles, in their transition from Division II to Division I status.

At Abilene Christian, Barnier developed solid squads in both track and field and cross country, tripling the size of his teams during his tenure. He coached the women's cross country team to the 2015 Southland Conference title, its first-ever league crown, and was named conference Coach of the Year. In track and field, he coached the men's and women's teams to upper-half finishes in the Southland Conference's indoor and outdoor championships in both 2015 and 2016, with the Wildcat women finishing second in the conference indoor championships in 2016. Seventeen Wildcat athletes (six men, 11 women) won Southland Conference individual titles during Barnier's tenure.
 
Prior to moving to Texas, Barnier spent 11 seasons (2002-13) as track and field and cross country head coach at his alma mater, Minnesota State University Moorhead. He also served as an assistant coach at the University of Alabama (women's track and field, 1997-2001, and men's and women's track and field, 1990-92) and Clemson University (men's track and field, 1993-97). Closer to his home base, Barnier served as an assistant coach for women's track and field and cross country at the University of St. Thomas (1987-90) and as interim head coach for men's and women's track and field at Carleton College (1992-93).
 
At MSU Moorhead, Barnier built a dominant program in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference during his tenure. The Dragons won NSIC team titles three times in track and field (women outdoor 2006, men indoor and outdoor 2011) and recorded 18 top-three team finishes, with 119 athletes (57 men, 62 women) earning NSIC individual or relay titles. In cross country, the Dragons won the NSIC title twice in both men's (2006, 2007) and women's (2005, 2007) competition, with two individuals winning NSIC individual crowns. He coached 57 Division II All-Americans and four individual national champions at MSU-Moorhead, with 49 athletes earning Scholar All-American awards. Barnier earned conference Coach of the Year honors five times.
 
During his two tenures at Alabama, Barnier was responsible for coaching sprints, hurdles and relays. His Crimson Tide student-athletes consistently competed for national and individual Southeastern Conference titles, competing in what is regarded as the most competitive conferences in collegiate track and field. During his time at Alabama, Crimson Tide athletes earned 28 SEC individual titles and 90 All-American honors, along with 12 Scholar All-American honos and an Olympic bronze medalist.
 
At Clemson, he coached the Tigers' men's sprinters, hurdlers and relay squads to numerous national, individual and team titles in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He was part of a staff at Clemson that earned 71 All-American performances, an NCAA titlist, a world junior championship and an Olympic gold medal.
 
He coached 25 All-Americans, a national titlist and nine Scholar All-Americans in his tenure at Carleton and St. Thomas, while winning eight MIAC titles and an NCAA team title with the Tommies.
 
A native of Elk River, Minn., Barnier earned his bachelor's degree in fitness management from MSU Moorhead in 1987, and his master's degree in athletic administration from St. Thomas in 1990. As a track competitor from 1983-87 at MSU-Moorhead, he earned trips to the national championships twice in hurdle events, and was part of Dragon teams that won NSIC indoor and outdoor team titles all four seasons.

Barnier, his wife Sylvia and daughter Angel live in New Brighton, Minn.