MINNEAPOLIS -- KiJuan Ware, who served as an assistant coach for the Augsburg University football team for two seasons as part of a quarter-century of coaching experience, is returning to Augsburg as the 16th head coach in school history, the university has announced.
 
Ware served as a defensive backs coach and recruiting coordinator during his two seasons at Augsburg (2022-23), before joining the staff at NCAA Division II Shippensburg University (Pa.), where he served last season as the Raiders' offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He had also served as Shippensburg as a running backs coach and recruiting coordinator in the 2018 season.
 
"I want to sincerely thank President Paul Pribbenow, Athletic Director Amy Cooper, and the rest of the hiring committee for this incredible opportunity," Ware said. "I'm truly honored to lead the Augsburg football program and deeply appreciate the confidence in my vision and leadership. I look forward to building something special together, and representing the Augsburg community with pride."
 
Ware replaces Derrin Lamker '97, who resigned in May after five seasons as the Auggies' mentor. Lamker compiled a 21-20 record at Augsburg from 2020-24.
 
The Augsburg head coaching role is Ware's second at a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference school; he had served as interim head coach at Macalester College in 2021, after serving as offensive coordinator for the Scots the prior two seasons.
 
"We're excited to welcome KiJuan Ware as Augsburg's football head coach," said Augsburg Athletic Director Amy Cooper. "His track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and commitment to student-athlete development perfectly reflect our values of excellence, community, and service. I'm confident coach Ware will lead our program to new heights -- on the field and in the classroom."
 
Prior to Ware's time at Shippensburg, he spent two seasons at Shorter University in Rome, Ga., as the offensive coordinator, recruiting coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In 2017, his offense broke 17 school records at Shorter. Ware also was the quarterbacks coach at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, as the team improved their passing yardage average by more than 40 yards per game in his tenure.
 
From 2004 through the 2013 season, Ware coached at six different Division I programs, serving in a variety of roles. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., before heading to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., to become the receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons. In 2008, Ware worked with the running backs at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., as an intern, and contributed to a victory in the Hawaii Bowl.
 
After Notre Dame, Ware served as the running backs coach at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for two seasons, including the 2010 Mid-American Conference championship season. Under Ware's guidance, the RedHawks significantly increased their rushing yards, rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns. He then moved on to Western Illinois in Macomb, Ill., where he was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Ware also coached the defensive backs at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Mich., for the 2013 campaign.
 
Ware is a 1997 graduate of Springfield (Mass.) College, where he majored in mathematics and computer science. He also played football and baseball all four years at Springfield. In 2000, he was named a Fulbright Scholar. Ware began his collegiate coaching career as an assistant at Springfield in 2002, and earned his master's degree in physical education and athletic administration in 2004.
 
A native of Hartford, Conn., Ware and his wife Michelle have a daughter, Kalyx.