The College of St. Scholastica

David Staniger enters his 22^nd season at the helm of the St. Scholastica men’s basketball program in 2021-22. Staniger is the winningest coach in program history with 275 victories. 
 
In the last six seasons, Staniger’s teams appeared in five Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) Tournament Championship games. It is the best span in program history in terms of wins and winning percentage.
 
Staniger’s Saints are coming off a UMAC regular season championship in the COVID-19 shortened season. It was the program’s second outright UMAC regular season title as Staniger was named the UMAC Coach of the Year.
 
In 2015-16, Staniger captured his first outright UMAC regular season championship and was named the conference’s coach of the year, leading the Saints to their best season in program history, tying a program record with 19 wins and finishing with a program-low eight losses.
 
Prior to that, his Saints squads have won two shared regular season conference crowns (2005-06, 2008-09) and four tournament titles ('04, '06, '07, ’09). Staniger led the Saints to the NAIA National Tournament for the first time in school history in 2004.
 
Through his first 21 seasons, Staniger has produced a CBA Draft Pick, a two-time First Team Academic All-American, two All-Americans and 24 First Team All-UMAC players. Will Maupins was selected as the 17^th overall pick in the second round by the CBA’s Great Falls Explorers in the 2007 draft. Brett Tester became the first CSS Athlete to earn First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American honors in back-to-back seasons.
 
A fiery competitor, his teams are consistently known for their aggressive defensive pressure and up-tempo running game. "We play defense to generate offense, not to stop the other team," says Staniger.
 
Before coming to St. Scholastica, Coach Staniger was the head assistant coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis. During his five seasons at Augsburg, the Auggies compiled a 94-35 record, won two MIAC championships, and he was part of a two-time coach of the year staff. He also helped direct the Auggies to two NCAA National Tournament appearances in 1998 and 1999.
 
While at Augsburg, Staniger helped develop Devean George into a first round NBA draft choice. George was selected 23rd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1999 NBA draft. George was the first Division III player ever selected in the first round and now has three NBA championship rings. George most recently played with the Golden State Warriors during the 2009-10 season.
 
Including his success with George, Staniger has now coached the leading 3-point shooter (3-pt FG Made) in school history at both Augsburg and St. Scholastica as Saints senior Derek Johnson reached the top of the list in 2006-07.
 
Staniger graduated from St. Scholastica in 1989 with dual degrees in Business Management and Sports/Recreation Management. A Chisholm, Minn., native, he played for the late Hall of Fame high school coach Bob McDonald who is the all-time winningest coach in Minnesota high school history.
 
Before joining the coaching ranks, Staniger worked for the Fargo-Moorhead Fever of the Continental Basketball Association.