Brandon Barkus is in his fifth season as the head women’s soccer coach at Augustana in 2010. In addition to his head coaching duties, Barkus is an instructor in the Augustana HPER department, coaches the Dakota Gold girls' soccer team and serves the South Dakota Youth Soccer Association. Barkus has compiled a career record of 33-34-10 in his four years on the sideline.
Barkus and Co. are coming of a 7-8-5 season in 2009; his team was just one win away from qualifying for the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament.
Barkus' 2008 squad put together the most successful season in school history, finishing 13-6-1 and 10-3 in NSIC play. The Vikings surpassed the record for wins in a season after beating Minnesota State, Mankato 1-0 on Oct. 18 to earn the ninth win of the season.
The 2008 team also made the NCAA Division II tournament for the first time in school history before falling to Regis (Colo.) 3-0 in the opening round.
Before coming to Augustana, Barkus helped University of Minnesota goalkeeper Molly Schneider compile two of the most successful seasons in Golden Gopher history. Schneider posted five shutouts in 2004, the most by a goalkeeper at the school since 2000. She followed that by recording seven shutouts in 2005 while earning All-Big Ten Conference first team honors as well as Soccer Buzz Great Lakes All-Region Second Team accolades.
Minnesota also cut its goals-against-average from a Big Ten-worst 2.38 in 2003 to 1.43 in 2004 to a school-record 0.84 in 2005. Schneider allowed fewer than two goals in 16 out of 19 games in 2005, ending her career at Minnesota with a school-record 1.12 career goals against average. Before joining the Golden Gopher staff, Barkus spent three years (2000-02) as head coach of the women's soccer team at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kan. Prior to taking over the women's program, he was an assistant coach for the Baker men's soccer team.
Barkus also served as club director at the Olathe Soccer Club for seven years and was the head coach of the Kansas Olympic Development Program from 1995-2003.
Barkus has earned his USSF "A" license and his USSF National Youth License. He has also collected the NSCAA Advanced National diploma and the NSCAA Level II Goalkeeping diploma.
Barkus, an Omaha, Neb., native, began his coaching career by serving as head coach of the varsity boys' soccer team at Atchison (Kan.) High School from 1995-98. He was named Kansas Coach of the Year in 1998.
As a player, Barkus was a two-time honorable mention All-America goaltender at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kan. He was also a two-time team captain and three-year starter for the Ravens.
Barkus earned a bachelor's degree in education from Benedictine in 1995 and is currently pursuing his master's in education at Augustana.
Barkus and his wife Jennifer have two daughters, Jillian and Sierra.