BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – As the 2024-25 academic year comes to a close, the membership of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) will celebrate three deserving individuals with the conference's Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented annually to an individual or individuals who have made a significant contribution to their institution and the conference. It is the highest honor bestowed upon an individual in the MIAC.
The recipients of the 2025 MIAC Distinguished Service Award are Augsburg University director of athletics Jeff Swenson, Saint John's University director of athletics Bob Alpers, and Saint John's University head baseball coach Jerry Haugen. Combined, these three individuals have dedicated nearly 150 years of service to their institutions and the MIAC.
Jeff Swenson, Augsburg University, Athletics Director
Swenson is retiring after spending the last 50 years at Augsburg University. A 1979 graduate of the institution, Swenson coached men's wrestling for 25 years and built the program into a national power, winning ten NCAA Division III championships in a 17-year span. A 13-time MIAC Coach of the Year, Swenson took on oversight of the entire Augsburg athletics department in 2001 and has since served in numerous conference-wide roles, including Chair of the MIAC AD Council and AD Liaison for MIAC women's hockey. Swenson was presented with the award at the MIAC AD Council meetings at St. Olaf last week. He is the third Auggie to be recognized with the MIAC's Distinguished Service Award, joining Paul Grauer (2010) and Marilyn Pearson Florian (2013).
Bob Alpers, Saint John's University, Athletics Director
Alpers is retiring after 47 years in Collegeville. A 1982 graduate of Saint John's University, Alpers spent 29 seasons as the Johnnies' head men's golf coach, leading the program to 13 MIAC titles, 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, and a pair of Division III national championships. He also spent 20 years as an assistant basketball coach and served as an assistant for the Johnnies' baseball and soccer teams. He has overseen Johnnie athletics since 2016, leading a department that has accounted for 19 regular-season conference titles, five playoff championships, and 20 NCAA appearances in that time. He has also served as the Chair of the MIAC AD Council, AD Liaison for men's and women's golf, and participated in several MIAC subcommittees. Alpers is one of six Johnnies to be presented with the award, joining John Gagliardi (2013), Jim Smith (2015), Dr. Ken Jones (2022), Tim Miles (2024), and Jerry Haugen (2025). Alpers was presented with the award at the MIAC AD Council meetings at St. Olaf last week.
Jerry Haugen, Saint John's University, Head Baseball Coach
Haugen has been a fixture at Saint John's University for the last 52 years. The 1976 graduate spent 48 of those years as the Johnnies' head baseball coach in the spring and football defensive coordinator in the fall. He also spent four years as SJU's head ice hockey coach and eight seasons as an assistant basketball coach for the school. Haugen has been part of 37 MIAC championship squads and made 43 national tournament appearances in his more than half a century in Collegeville. Haugen is one of six Johnnies to be presented with the award, joining John Gagliardi (2013), Jim Smith (2015), Dr. Ken Jones (2022), Tim Miles (2024), and Bob Alpers (2025). Haugen was presented with the award at the 2025 MIAC Baseball Playoffs last week.
| All-Time MIAC Distinguished Service Award Honorees |