Aaron Aanonsen enters his eighth year as head men’s basketball coach at Lakeland College.
The Muskies finished 15-11 overall last year, getting off to a 9-1 start before injuries took a toll. Lakeland finished with an 11-9 record in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference, placing fifth in the final standings.
During the 2013-2014 season, Aanonsen notched his 100th career victory in leading his team to a 19-8 record. Three players earned all-conference recognition, including two First Team All-NACC selections. Senior Justin Ward also was named to the d3hoops.com all-Midwest Region team and was named a Third Team All-American selection by
Basketball Times magazine. Lakeland led the NACC in points, steals and blocks per Game.
In 2012-2013, Aanonsen led the Muskies to a 22-6 overall record, including a 13-3 record in the NACC. The Muskies won their first-ever NACC North Division title and advanced to the championship game of the NACC Tournament for the second straight year before falling to South Division champion Aurora. The team’s 22-win season broke the school record since becoming an NCAA institution, and its 15-2 start was the best 17-game start in Lakeland’s 80-year history for men’s basketball. Four Muskie players earned all-conference recognition, including NACC Player of the Year Jake Schwarz, who also appeared in the 2013 Division III All-Star Game.
Aanonsen has a career 116-71 record in his first seven years leading the Muskies. He is in his 10th year at the school overall, having served as an assistant coach for two years upon his arrival at Lakeland in 2006. Lakeland improved its win total in each of the first five seasons under Aanonsen. He already ranks third all-time at Lakeland in career wins, and he is the only coach to lead a team to back-to-back 20-win seasons since the Muskies joined NCAA Division III in 1997.
Aanonsen has employed an electric up-tempo style that has proven to be player- and fan-friendly and has prevailed in the NACC and at the national level. Lakeland ranked among the top 15 nationally in NCAA Division III in scoring three straight seasons from 2011-12 through 2013-14, including 13th in 2013-14 at 84.4 points per game. Development of talent and character has also been instrumental for Lakeland in Aanonsen’s tenure as he has produced 17 all-conference players and four 1,000-point scorers, including the school’s all-time leading scorer in Schwarz.
Prior to arriving at Lakeland in 2006, Aanonsen was the second assistant at Minnesota State University-Moorhead, where he worked under head coach Stu Engen, while earning his master’s degree in educational leadership-activities management.
Aanonsen played basketball collegiately at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and was elected team captain as a senior in 2004-05. He graduated with highest honors with a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science-sport management.
Aanonsen also serves as assistant athletic director at Lakeland. He and his wife, Brye, reside in Howards Grove and have three children: daughter Ambryn, son Avrie, and daughter Eden. Brye also works at Lakeland as director of the school's evening, weekend and online program.
| Aaron Aanonsen Career Coaching Record |
|---|
| Year | Overall Record | Conf. Record | |
| 2008-09 | 10-15 | 4-12 | |
| 2009-10 | 12-14 | 8-8 | |
| 2010-11 | 16-10 | 10-6 | |
| 2011-12 | 21-7 | 12-4 | NAC Tournament finalist |
| 2012-13 | 22-6 | 13-3 | NAC North regular season champions;
NAC Tournament finalist |
| 2013-14 | 19-8 | 14-6 | |
| 2014-15 | 15-11 | 11-9 | |
| Career | 116-71 | 72-48 | .620 winning percentage |
