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auggie voicesCoach Holker becomes an AuggieGreg Holker knows that his class ring from GustavusAdolphus College is in a box at his house. And he’s prettysure he knows where his diploma is.But that is it. Those are the only tangible things theAugsburg men’s soccer coach has left from his time bothas a player and as an assistant coach in St. Peter, Minn.Holker openly admits he didn’t think that was going tobe the case when he took over the Auggie program in2004. His goal was pretty simple: make Augsburg respectable,win some games, and put himself in position tobecome the next Gustavus coach.“I had a five-year plan,” he says. “I thought I’d be herethree years and I’d be out.” But something happenedalong the way to mess up those plans—Holker becamean Auggie.“The institution has evolved significantly over the sixyears I’ve been here and I’ve changed as well,” Holkersays. “I started to embrace the institution and our work.”He also had success. In 2006 Holker led Augsburg’smen’s soccer team to a 13-victory season and a first-everMinnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoffberth. In 2008 Augsburg reached the NCAA tournament forthe first time in school history and reached the Sweet 16 beforelosing to Loras College in two overtimes.This past spring, however, brought out the truest examplethat Holker had genuinely become an Auggie. When thehead soccer coach position at Gustavus opened, Holker wasapproached about the job and spent a day in St. Peter.Before the search moved any farther along, however,Holker pulled out of consideration.And this year, following a record-breaking season formen’s soccer, Holker was named MIAC Coach of the Year,and sophomore Chad Gilmer was named MIAC Player ofthe Year. The team won the MIAC playoff championshipand advanced to the national tournament for the secondtime. It won the first round, but lost to the University ofWisconsin-Whitewater in the second round.“At the end of the day, this is where I want to be,”Holker says. “I like being in the city and I like that there’sa very true identity here. I think I’m 100% in love withwhat this institution does. Seven years ago, this was a job.Now, it's a part of me.”And now he’s an Auggie.JEFF SHELMAN is the former director of media relations in the Marketing andCommunication Office.10 Augsburg Now