Riverland Community College has named Douglas J. Waldner (Hayfield) as women’s basketball coach. His coaching responsibilities will include conducting practices, coordinating athlete conditioning, travel with the team, recruiting future players and other related responsibilities.

The Riverland woman’s basketball program has been going through a restructuring phase and suspended its 2015-2016 women’s basketball season while searching to hire a new coach.

“I am very excited we were able to hire Doug,” said David Lillemon, Riverland athletic director. He will bring us a new philosophy and energy to bring the women’s basketball program back for the 2016-2017 season. He will be focused on building an entire team with a lot of optimism.”

Waldner received his PhD in Biological Sciences with and emphasis in infectious diseases and a bachelor of science (BS) degree in agronomy, from South Dakota State University. He is currently the assistant basketball coach for Rochester Community and Technical College women’s basketball team. He is also the founder and coach for the Southern Minnesota Wave boys’ and girls’ basketball teams. Waldner served head coach for the Southern Minnesota ELITE 10^th Grade girls’ team during the 2013-2014 seasons. He has also coached elementary and middle school teams in Hayfield and Brookings, SD.

“We are excited to have Douglas joining the Riverland Athletic Department coaching staff, said Gary Schindler, Riverland dean of students. “He has a strong background in amateur and college coaching, and is well connected with area coaches in the region.”

Riverland Community College is a member of the Minnesota Collegiate Athletic Conference (MCAC) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region XIII. Eligibility requirements are established by the NJCAA and the MCAC. The Riverland athletics program includes men’s soccer, basketball and baseball and women’s volleyball, basketball and fastpitch softball.