Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications Pictured above is Bruce Saugstad. SMSU President Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya announced Tuesday that Saugstad will be named the interim Director of Athletics starting June 7.

MARSHALL — Southwest Minnesota State University announced on Tuesday that Bruce Saugstad has been named the interim Director of Athletics. Saugstad will take over for Chris Hmielewski, who resigned earlier in the month after spending 15 years in the position.

“I’m very excited to join the SMSU team and would like to thank President Dr. Kumara Jayasuriya for this opportunity,” Saugstad said in a press release. “I would also like to thank Chris Hmielewski for his many years of dedication to Mustang Athletics and look forward to continuing to build on the foundation that he and his team have built.”

Saugstad is no stranger to the Mustangs. A four-year letterwinner on the SMSU football team at defensive back from 1985-88, Saugstad was a part of the 1987 team that made its first playoff appearance as a program and recorded 255 total tackles (17 for a loss), three interceptions and nine fumble recoveries in his career. He was named a NAIA All-America Scholar-Athlete twice, earned first team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in 1988 and won the Glen Galligan Award (top senior football student-athlete in the Northern Intercollegiate Conference) and NIC Dr. William Britton Award (top male scholar-athlete in the conference). His wife, Linda, also is a former SMSU student-athlete and was a four-year letterwinner with the women’s basketball team.

Saugstad said it’ll be special to be able to return to SMSU, a place that is very special for both him and his wife.

“It feels great and we’re really excited about it,” Saugstad said. “SMSU has a special place in our hearts and not only was I able to have a great experience and education there, I met the love of my life there, so it’ll be great to come back and work towards making a positive impact.”

After graduating from SMSU in 1989, Saugstad took a position in the IT department with Schwan’s Company where he had various roles, including serving as a chief information officer, before moving over to the general management side where he worked with the home service leading their sales and marketing. Most recently, Saugstad was serving as the senior Vice President of International Business for Schwan’s Consumer Brands.

Saugstad said he was looking for a new change with his career and when the position at SMSU opened, he put his name in the running.

“It was just good timing,” Saugstad said. “I decided to make a change from my role at Schwan’s; Schwan’s has been a fabulous place for me and my family to grow up with, but I was looking for something new. I’ve been involved with SMSU in different facets and certainly have an interest and a passion for sports, our student-athletes and our community and I had the opportunity to talk with President Jayasuriya and I’m excited that it worked out.”

“Bruce has had a distinguished career in the private sector and has remained an avid supporter and fan of the Mustangs throughout his career with Schwan’s,” Jayasuriya added. “His passion for SMSU, coupled with his business experiences and respected standing in the local and alumni communities make him an excellent candidate to step in and lead during this time of transition. I have no doubt that he will provide great leadership until such time that the position is filled on a permanent basis.”

Saugstad, who was inducted in the SMSU Athletics Hall of Honor in 2009, will officially start his position on June 7. He said he’s looking forward to getting to work right away and making a positive impact on the community and the athletic department at SMSU.

“I’m looking forward to being a part of the team there and making a positive impact in the community and the athletic department as well as in the lives of our student-athletes,” Saugstad said.