Former Gophers volleyball coach Stephanie Schleuder died this week. She was 73. Her death was announced Tuesday by her family and the Gophers athletic department.
USA Volleyball Hall of Fame and former Gophers coach Stephanie Schleuder dies
Minnesota Scene: Stephanie Schleuder coached the Gophers from 1982-94 and Macalester for 12 more years before retiring. She also coached at Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth and Alabama.
June 28, 2023 at 5:05AM
![Governor Mark Dayton poses for a portrait with Stephanie Schleuder (cq/source), co-chair of the National Girls and Women in Sports Day event at the Minnesota State Capitol. Dayton presented a proclamation recognizing February 1 as Minnesota's Girls and Women in Sports day. ] MARISA WOJCIK marisa.wojcik@startribune.com Wednesday, February 1, 2012 was the 26th annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the Minnesota State Capitol rotunda. This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Title IX amendment which guarentees equal opportunity to participation in any education program or activity, regardless of sex or gender. The event honored Minnesota leadership on issues involving women and girls in sports.](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/JLVQ23H4A3SXB5JWFSFYRG6NCU.jpg?&w=712)
Schleuder coached the Gophers from 1982-94. In 13 seasons, she led the Gophers to a 263-173 overall record and two appearances in the NCAA tournament (1989, 1993). The Gophers reached the Sweet 16 in 1993.
Schleuder coached the Gophers to a 128-88 record in Big Ten conference play, where they were the conference runner-up three times.
During Schleuder's tenure, 12 Gophers received All-Big Ten Honors, including Martie Larsen, who was named Big Ten Player of the Year in 1983.
Schleuder was fired by then Gophers women's athletic director Chris Voelz in December 1994. Schleuder, who was paid $50,000 in 1994, had been in a pay-equity dispute with Voelz. In April 1995, Schleuder and the university reached an agreement that paid the coach $300,000 in exchange for her dropping all claims against the university.
In 1998, Schleuder became the volleyball coach at Macalester. She coached the Scots for 12 years before retiring. She finished her 34-year coaching career with 702 victories.
She also coached at Bemidji State, Minnesota Duluth and Alabama.
In 2005, Schleuder was inducted into the Minnesota Volleyball Hall of Fame. In 1991, she became the first woman to be inducted into the UMD Bulldogs Hall of Fame.
In 2019, Schleuder was inducted into the USA Volleyball Hall of Fame.
JOEL RIPPEL
Smith makes U.S. team
Regan Smith won the women's 200-meter butterfly Tuesday to open the USA Swimming national championships, earning a place on the U.S. team for next month's world championships in Japan.
Smith, a Lakeville native and three-time Olympic medalist, finished the race in 2 minutes, 5.79 seconds. She will swim in four more events at this week's nationals in Indianapolis, with the top two finishers in each event qualifying for worlds.
RACHEL BLOUNT
Whitecaps re-sign Snodgrass
The Minnesota Whitecaps re-signed forward Natalie Snodgrass to a two-year deal through the 2024-25 Premier Hockey Federation season. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Snodgrass, an Eagan native, finished her rookie season with 10 goals and 10 assists, and was a PHF Rookie of the Year finalist.
"It feels incredible and I still can't believe I get to call this my job," Snodgrass said in a news release. "Especially since I get to play in front of my family, friends and the greatest fans in the PHF for two more years!"
Aurora set ticket sales record
The Minnesota Aurora announced a USL W record for attendance for Saturday's upcoming regular-season finale vs. Chicago City. The Aurora expanded capacity at TCO Stadium to 6,987 seats and all tickets have been sold for their third sellout this season.
"The demand for women's soccer is clear in Minnesota," said Aurora co-founder Andrea Yoch in a news release. "Every time we have added seats, the fans have responded and supported the team. It's incredible and the entire organization is grateful."
The Aurora, who clinched the Heartland Division last weekend, also announced they will travel to Flint, Mich., for the Central Conference semifinal on July 6. The time and opponent have yet to be determined.
Etc.
- The brother-sister duo of Kathryn and Caleb VanArragon erased a four-stroke deficit with a final-round 65 to claim the Minnesota Golf Association Mixed Amateur Team Championship. The VanArragons defeated Molly Stevens and Brandon Sperling by one stroke at Brackett's Crossing.
An All-American in gymnastics and the classroom, Mya Hooten's career nearly ended before it started — but two families came together for a life-changing leap of faith.
