Jeff Trumbauer, the 23rd head coach in Black Hills State University men’s basketball history, enters his fourth season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets.
With his third recruiting class in place, the Yellow Jackets are looking to move forward in the RMAC standings this season. In the 2016-17 campaign, BHSU established themselves as a strong defensive team, finishing the season ranked 1st in the RMAC and 17th in the nation in points allowed per game, holding opponents to 67.2 ppg. Additionally, the BHSU men finished 1st in the RMAC and 22nd in the nation in overall defensive field goal percentage at 41.2%. They also held their foes to 33.2% shooting from behind the 3-point arc, which was good for a 2nd place ranking in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. All of these stats were school records since the Yellow Jackets joined NCAA Division II play.
In Trumbauer’s second season (2015-16), Nick Ongarato became the first Yellow Jacket in the DII era to earn First Team All-RMAC honors. Ongarato averaged 19.3 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. That season the Jackets notched a new NCAA-era best in victories, both overall and conference.
In 2014-15, Trumbauer helped the Yellow Jackets to their most wins since joining NCAA Division II and the RMAC, with 10 overall wins and eight RMAC victories. He also coached Brody Brisk who earned First Team All-Academic accolades from the RMAC.
Prior to Black Hills State, Trumbauer spent five years at Augustana University, assisting the Vikings to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, and three top-five finishes in the NSIC. The recruiting classes during Trumbauer’s stop at Augustana went on to accomplish the best two seasons in school history, winning two NSIC Championships in 2015 and 2016, as well as the NCAA Division II National Title in 2016. In those seasons the Vikings earned a combined record of 65-5, and several players racked up post-season awards with seven 1st Team All-Conference selections (2014-16), three NABC All-Americans selections (2015-16), and one NABC National Player of the Year (2016)
Prior to Augie, Trumbauer was the head coach at Jamestown College, compiling a record of 95-83. In 2008 he was named the Dakota Athletic Conference Coach of the Year while winning the DAC Championship and an NAIA National Tournament bid. Trumbauer again led his team to the NAIA Tournament in 2010 after winning the DAC Tournament Championship.
At Jamestown, Trumbauer coached seven All-Americans, 11 All-Conference student-athletes, and the 2008 DAC Most Valuable Player, 2007 Defensive Player of the Year, and 2010 Newcomer of the Year.
In six years as the head coach at Jamestown, Trumbauer’s teams compiled a 3.15 combined grade point average with every student-athlete earning their degree.
A native of Battle Lake, Minnesota, Trumbauer received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from North Dakota State in 1998 and his master’s in education from Northern State in 1999.
Trumbauer and his wife, Jodi, have two daughters, Katie and Leah, and two sons, Joe and Andrew.
