Coming off the recent 2016 Division III national championship, former Tommie standout player John Tauer just completed his eighth season as St. Thomas' head coach in 2018-19, and his 19^thseason as a coach and professor of psychology at UST.

Twice named a Division III National Coach of the Year -- in 2013 by Basketball Times, and in 2016 by the National Basketball Coaches' Association and by D3 News -- Tauer also has received four West Region and four MIAC Coach of the Year Awards.

Among Division III men's coaches, he was the second fastest in history to 100 victories and is believed to have won more games in his first five seasons than any coach in Division III history.

Tauer’s first eight teams compiled a 185-47 overall mark (80-percent win clip). Tauer's winning percentage ranks in the top 10 of all 1,000+ NCAA coaches. That includes a 122-28 record against conference opponents, a 7-for-8 run in MIAC regular-season championships (solo or shared), three Sweet 16 appearances, two Final Fours and a National Championship.

He was the first MIAC coach to sweep conference and playoff championships in each of his first two seasons as head coach. He’s also the lone conference individual -- and one of a small number of coaches nationally -- to have played in, been an assistant coach, and been a head coach at the Division III Final Four. In addition, he is the first MIAC coach to win regular-season titles in each of his first six seasons.

Tauer is just the third head coach for St. Thomas men’s basketball since 1954. He’s continued an impressive tradition that has the Tommies ranked No. 3 among all 400-plus Division III programs in all-time victories.

Tauer’s unique background extends to his work as a tenured psychology professor. His first 11 years at UST he was an assistant basketball coach and full-time professor in the psychology department with a research emphasis in factors that affect intrinsic motivation. He has a written a book on youth sports, motivation, and parenting, titled “Why Less is More for WOSPs (Well-Intentioned, Overinvolved Sports Parents): How to be the Best Sports Parent You Can Be” and his work has been featured in regional and national outlets, including the New York Times.

For full bio visit: https://www.tommiesports.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/Johnny_Tauer?view=bio