Travis Traphagen has made a significant impact with the University of Sioux Falls Women’s Basketball Team. In his 16th season at USF, he has established a career record of 275-156.
Traphagen has led the Cougars to an NAIA quarterfinal appearance, two NCAA central region berths, 11 NSIC tournament appearances, an NSIC tournament title as well as an NSIC South Division title. Traphagen has led the Cougars to 12 winning seasons with an eight year streak from 2014 to 2022.
Before coming to USF, he was the head assistant women’s basketball coach at Augustana College (S.D.) from 2001-2008. The Vikings were 111-69 while he was an assistant coach. Traphagen served as a graduate assistant at Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb., where he earned a master’s degree in sports administration.
Prior to his coaching career, Traphagen earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Black Hills State University, where he played college basketball for three years. He was a two-time all-conference selection, including team Co-Captain and Co-MVP during the 1999 season. During Traphagen’s time at BHSU, the Yellow Jackets won three consecutive South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference championships. He holds the Yellow Jackets single season record for made 3-pointers with 97 that he set during the 1997-98 season.
Traphagen and his wife, Ann, reside in Sioux Falls with their three children, Grayson, Riley and Luke.
USF Records and Accomplishments
-275 wins entering the 2023 season
-Six 20-win seasons
-Two NCAA DII Central Regional Berths
-2019-2020 NSIC South Division Champs
-2016 NSIC Tournament Champions
-Two Freshman Players of the Year (2011- Laura Johnson (GPAC) and 2013 Sam Knecht (NSIC)
-One NSIC South Preseason Player of the year- Taylor Varsho (2015-2016)
-One NSIC Player of the Year- Taylor Varsho (2015-2016)
-One NSIC Tournament Team MVP- Taylor Varsho (2015-2016)
-One NCAA DII All-American- Sam Knecht
-One D2CCA All-Region First Team- Kaely Hummel (2019-2020)
-Seven All-GPAC Honorees
-14 All-NSIC Honorees
-Four All-NSIC Defense Honorees
-76 NSIC All-Academic Honorees
-Two NSIC Honor-Student Athletes (Samantha Knecht 2016-17 and Jacey Huinker 2019-20).
Traphagen Year-by-Year
|
Year
|
School
|
Overall
|
Conf.
|
Finish
|
2008-09
|
Sioux Falls
|
18-13
|
9-9
|
6th
|
2009-10
|
Sioux Falls
|
18-14
|
9-9
|
8th
|
2010-11
|
Sioux Falls
|
27-6
|
14-4
|
3rd
|
2011-12
|
Sioux Falls
|
23-3
|
----
|
----
|
2012-13
|
Sioux Falls
|
12-15
|
9-13
|
12th
|
2013-14
|
Sioux Falls
|
14-15
|
8-14
|
11th
|
2014-15
|
Sioux Falls
|
17-10
|
13-9
|
7th
|
2015-16
|
Sioux Falls
|
27-6
|
17-5
|
2nd
|
2016-17
|
Sioux Falls
|
22-8
|
15-7
|
5th
|
2017-18
|
Sioux Falls
|
16-13
|
11-11
|
7th
|
2018-19
|
Sioux Falls
|
23-8
|
16-6
|
4th
|
2019-20
|
Sioux Falls
|
26-6
|
17-5
|
2nd*
|
2020-21
|
Sioux Falls
|
8-6
|
8-5
|
5th**
|
2021-22
|
Sioux Falls
|
16-12
|
11-9
|
5th
|
2022-23
|
Sioux Falls
|
8-20
|
5-17
|
t14th
|
2023-24
|
Sioux Falls
|
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|
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|
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|
TOTAL
|
|
275-156
|
162-123
|
|
*USF won the NSIC South Division title for first time in 2019-20.
**Covid shortened season
Updated: 7/2023