MINNEAPOLIS (7/29/02) -- Augsburg College named alumnus Douge Schildgen as the school's new baseball head coach, men's athletic director Paul Grauer announced on Monday.

Schildgen, 35, a 1990 Augsburg alumnus, replaces Mark Strandemo, who resigned in May after serving as Augsburg's head coach for seven seasons, compiling an 88-196 record.

For the past four seasons, Schildgen has served as head coach at North Hennepin Community College. He compiled a 49-44 record in his four seasons with the Norsemen, finishing second in the competitive Minnesota Community College Conference twice and reaching state tournament and regional competition twice.

Prior to coaching at North Hennepin, Schildgen served as co-head coach at his high school alma mater, DeLaSalle High School in Minneapolis (1993-98). He also served as an assistant coach at Augsburg from 1990-93. He has also coached basketball for the last decade, as varsity assistant and JV head coach at Brooklyn Center High School from 1991-97 and in the same positions at DeLaSalle from 1997 to the present.

"I look forward to giving every class here a chance to get into the top four in the MIAC (Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and making the playoffs," Schildgen said. "Coming back home to Augsburg is nice. I want the guys to get the pride back into the program, make the kids proud to wear the Augsburg 'A'."

As a player, Schildgen spent his first two seasons at North Hennepin before completing his career at Augsburg. As a second baseman and outfielder for the Auggies, Schildgen hit .261 (42-of-161) with 28 RBI, 20 runs scored, 13 doubles, one triple, three homers and six stolen bases in his two seasons. His senior season, he hit .287 with 25 hits, nine doubles and a .402 on-bse percentage. He was a member of a state-title basketball team at DeLaSalle.

Schildgen received his associate degree from North Hennepin in 1987 and his bachelor's degree from Augsburg in 1990, majoring in physical education and minoring in health education. He received his master's of education degree from the University of Minnesota in 2000.

He has taught physical education at various levels in the Minneapolis and Plymouth school districts in his career. Most recently, he was a physical education instructor and manager of the fitness center at North Hennepin.

Augsburg struggled this season in baseball, with a 9-29 overall record. The baseball team suffered through three long losing streaks, including two in conference play. However, Augsburg was playing with a young lineup, with just four seniors on the roster and 20 freshmen and sophomores.