ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Augustana head football coach Steve Bell recently completed assembling his new staff with the announcement of three new coaches. Dave Ragone, Dan Bauder and Josh Kotecki will be the new faces patrolling the Vikings' sidelines this fall.
 
DAVE RAGONE: Ragone comes on board as the associate head coach/offensive line coach and special teams coordinator while Bauder will be the defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach and Kotecki will handle the duty of offensive coordinator and running backs coach.
 
 A long-time associate of Bell, Ragone was named associate head coach and special teams' coordinator in January of 2015. He left Monmouth College where he served as the assistant head coach, special teams' coordinator and offensive line coach under Bell.  In addition to coaching football, Ragone was the head men's golf coach and an instructor of physical education at Monmouth.
 
At Monmouth, Ragone played a vital role in leading the school to four NCAA playoff appearances during his 15 season stint. During his tenure Monmouth achieved an overall record of 112-44 with only one losing season, which was his first year with the Scots.  During his time at Monmouth, he recruited, developed and graduated 28 all-conference offensive linemen, five all-conference tight ends, 10 all-conference kickers, nine all-conference punters, seven all-conference kick returners and eight special teams' "Players of the Year". 
 
Before going to Monmouth, Ragone was the offensive line coach and strength and conditioning coordinator at Delaware Valley College from 1997-1999.  At Delaware Valley, Ragone also was the head men's and women's track and field coach. 
 
In 1996, Ragone spent a year at Episcopal High School in Jacksonville, Florida.  There he was the offensive and defensive line coach, strength and conditioning coordinator and instructor of physical education. 
 
Ragone also spent time as the offensive line coach, strength and conditioning coordinator and instructor of physical education at Bemidji State University from 1994-1995.  He held the same positions at Manchester College from 1992-1993.
 
Ragone earned a Bachelor of Science in exercise and sport science from Ursinus College in 1992.  He continued his education at Bemidji State University by earning a Master of Science in physical education.
 
DAN BAUDER: Bauder was introduced as the defensive coordinator on Steve Bell's coaching staff in January of 2015. He left Wittenberg University where he served as the linebacker, cornerback and special teams coach at various points during his tenure.  Bauder holds a U.S.A.W. certification and was the head strength and conditioning coach at Wittenberg.
 
Bauder's work at Wittenberg from 2012-2014 wasn't lacking in accomplishments despite his short tenure.  He was a part of three North Coast Athletic Conference Championship teams and three NCAA playoff appearances and the Tigers were a combined 29-6 during that time frame.  He coached two all-NCAC cornerbacks in 2012, two all-NCAC linebackers in 2013 and two all-NCAC linebackers in 2014.  In 2014, he was a key part of the coaching staff on a defense that allowed just 15.4 points per game and ranked 10^th NCAA Division III in takeaways with 31.
 
Previous to coaching at Wittenberg, Bauder was at Wartburg from 2009-2012 as running backs and wide receivers coach.  Additionally, he was the assistant recruiting coordinator and assistant strength and conditioning coach.  He coached four all-Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference athletes while accumulating a combined record of 24-6 during his tenure.  In 2010, Bauder helped lead Wartburg to a conference championship.
 
Bauder also had an impressive playing career at Wartburg where he received three varsity letters.  He was a three-year starter, two seasons at wide receiver and one at quarterback.  He was named to the academic all-conference team three times and was a senior captain on the 2008 IIAC championship team.  On top of football, Bauder was an active member of the Knights' track and field team. 
 
JOSH KOTECKI: Kotecki, a former team captain for head coach Steve Bell at Monmouth, joined the Augustana football staff in January of 2015. Kotecki will serve as the Vikings' offensive coordinator and will coach the running backs.
 
He is a 2010 graduate of Monmouth with a degree in physical education and he has a Master of Arts in educational policy and administration from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota.
 
He served as team captain for the Scots in 2008 and 2009 and was a three time first team all-conference performer in the Midwest Conference as an offensive guard. He was a two-time NCAA Division III all-West Region selection and was an All-American selection in 2008.
 
He helped coach the offensive line at Monmouth in the spring of 2010 and the moved to Beloit College in the fall of 2010 where he worked with the tight ends and the offensive line. He spent four years (2011-15) at Dakota Wesleyan where he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.
 
A member of the American Football Coaches Association, Kotecki has been a speaker at the several clinics throughout the Midwest.
 
Bell also announced that Brent Allen, who coached the offensive line for the Vikings the past two years, will move over to the defensive side of the ball and coach the linebackers. Aaron Call will once again handle the defensive line and heading into the spring season interns Jordan Bible (defensive backs) and Jordan Leuschen (tight ends) will continue to help out.

Dick Blair and Dick Skillett, veteran part-time assistant coaches, will also be back with the Vikings in 2015. Blair will coach the tight ends and wide receivers while Skillett will handle the kickers.