Kathryn Knippenberg

Kathryn Knippenberg

Kathryn Knippenberg (Minnesota '08) enters her 11th season as Augsburg's women's lacrosse head coach in 2024, leading the first NCAA varsity women's lacrosse program in Minnesota.

Augsburg Coaching Highlights
Knippenberg guided the Auggies to improved records in the first five seasons of the team's existence -- from a 6-7 varsity record in 2014 to a 7-8 mark in 2015 and a 11-7 record in 2016, 12-7 mark in 2017 and a 13-5 record in 2018. In 2016, the Auggies played their first season in the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference (MWLC) and reached the four-team conference playoffs, finishing with a 6-3 league mark. In 2017 the Auggies had their best season on record finishing 12-7 and reaching the MWLC semifinals. In 2018 the Auggies bettered their record yet again finishing 13-5, winning their first playoff game and reached the MWCL championship game. In 2019 the Auggies finished 10-8 and reached the MWLC playoffs for the fifth straight year. In 2020 the Auggies season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after a 1-2 start. 

Previous Coaching Experience
Knippenberg served as the girls' lacrosse head coach at the Academy of Holy Angels from 2009 to 2012. Knippenberg also served as co-founder and president of the North Central Women's Lacrosse League (NCWLL), which manages 22 college club lacrosse teams in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and Iowa. Knippenberg also has worked with “Winning For Life,” a non-profit organization dedicated to developing positive leadership and life skills through sports.

Playing Experience
Knippenberg was president and team captain for the Gopher women's lacrosse club team from 2005-08.

Personal Notes
Knippenberg is a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she earned her bachelor's in biology with minors in chemistry and art, and completed her master's degree in epidemiology.

YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORD
Year Overall Record Overall Winning Pct. MWLC Record MWLC Winning Pct. MWLC Finish Notes
2023 4-12 .250 2-5 .286 6th/8
2022 0-16 .000 0-5 .000 6th/6
2021 5-6 .455 5-1 .833 2nd/7 MWLC Playoff Semifinals
2020 1-2 .333 1-1 .500 --- Season canceled due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic 
2019 10-8 .556 10-3 .769 4th/12 MWLC Semifinals
2018 13-5 .772 10-1 .909 2nd/12 MWLC Runner-Up
2017 12-6 .667 8-3 .727 t4th/10 MWLC Semifinals
2016 11-7 .611 6-3 .667 3rd/9 First season in conferece (MWLC)
MWLC Quarterfinals
2015 7-8 .467 --- --- --- ---
2014 6-7 .462 --- --- --- First season of varsity lacrosse
All-time 69-77 .500 42-22 .702