After highs and lows took their toll, Chelsea Stoltenberg exits coaching ranks with gratitude

A native of Watertown, South Dakota, Stoltenberg started playing collegiately at Augustana in 2004. She parlayed that opportunity into a shot at becoming a coach with the University of Sioux Falls after graduating from Augie in 2009. Stoltenberg went from ...

Mar. 26—BEMIDJI — For 22 years, Chelsea Stoltenberg's life has revolved around college basketball. But now she's ready to take a step back.

A native of Watertown, South Dakota, Stoltenberg started playing collegiately at Augustana in 2004. She parlayed that opportunity into a shot at becoming a coach with the University of Sioux Falls after graduating from Augie in 2009. Stoltenberg went from a graduate assistant to a full-time assistant coach with the Cougars.

She took things another step further in 2015 when she took the Bemidji State head coaching position. After 11 years with the Beavers, Stoltenberg resigned from her position following the 205-26 season, a campaign in which BSU went 9-17 and missed the NSIC Tournament for the fourth year in a row. "I'm stepping away from something I thought I was failing at in the aspect of wins and losses," Stoltenberg said.