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After over a decade of exemplary leadership and dedication, Stu Engen, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS), is set to embark on a new journey. Engen will be joining Idaho State University as an Assistant Coach, where he will work under Head Coach Ryan Looney in the NCAA Division I Big Sky Conference. Looney and Engen share a rich history, with Looney having previously served as Engen’s assistant at both the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Minnesota State University Moorhead. 

Engen was named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and the Director of Athletics at North Dakota State College of Science on May 30, 2012. The Wildcats have won at least 25 games in all of Engen's seasons, including a school-record 31 wins in 2016-17 & 2023-2024. 

During his tenure at NDSCS, Engen transformed the Wildcats into a basketball powerhouse, amassing a remarkable record of 323-60. Under his leadership, the Wildcats clinched seven Region XIII titles and seven Mon-Dak Conference championships. In 2016, the team made a memorable run to the NJCAA National Tournament. His achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Coach of the Year honors across various conferences and regions. 

NDSCS Career Highlights:

• 2024 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2024 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2023 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2023 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2022 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2018 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee, Upper Iowa University
• 2018 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2018 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2017 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2017 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2016 District 11 Coach of the Year
• 2016 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year
• 2016 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2015 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2014 Region XIII Coach of the Year
• 2013 Mon-Dak Conference Coach of the Year 

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan is appreciative of the impact Engen made on the entire NDSCS Athletics program, “Stu Engen's departure marks the end of a significant era for NDSCS athletics. His contributions have left an indelible mark on the college, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Wildcats. We wish Stu and his family all the best.” 

Throughout his career, Engen has not only focused on team success but also on the development of individual players. Under his mentorship, eight players earned Region XIII Player of the Year honors, 10 became NJCAA All-Americans, and 10 signed with NCAA Division I programs. Engen's influence extends beyond NDSCS, with former assistants now leading collegiate programs and former players pursuing professional careers. 

The search to replace Engen’s dual roles will begin immediately. We will release more information about the search details when they become available.

North Dakota State College of Science (NDSCS) is proud to announce the appointment of Gach Gach as the Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach, following the departure of Stu Engen, who has taken a position joining the coaching staff at Idaho State University. 

A 2017 graduate of NDSCS, Gach Gach (pronounced GOTCH GOTCH) brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success. During his time as a player for the Wildcats, Gach was instrumental in leading the team to a remarkable 59-9 overall record, securing two Mon-Dak Conference Championships, two Region XIII Championships, a District Championship, and a National Tournament appearance. Gach’s individual contributions were recognized with numerous Conference and Regional honors. 

Following his tenure at NDSCS, Gach transferred to West Texas A&M where he continued to excel, helping his team to a 66-8 record and leading them to back-to-back Elite Eight and Final Four appearances. His stellar performance earned him Lone Star Conference honors. Over his four-year college career, Gach amassed an outstanding overall record of 125-17. 

An Austin, Minnesota native, Gach earned his bachelor’s degree from West Texas A&M University, and returned to NDSCS in 2022 as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach. 

Gach Gach shared his excitement about this new chapter: “As an NDSCS alum, I’m really excited at this opportunity to lead the Men’s Basketball program along with my fellow coaches. We are eager for the fall to get our team together to start the new season. I’m honored to have been given this responsibility.” 

The Head Men’s Basketball Coach position will remain interim until a new Athletic Director is hired, and the ultimate decision regarding the permanent head coach will be made by them. 

NDSCS President Rod Flanigan expressed his confidence in Gach’s leadership during this transitional period: “During this transition time, we are steadied by having the entire coaching staff’s expertise and guidance to keep our successful program on track and continue our quest for a National Championship. Although the final head coaching decision will be made by the new Athletic Director, we are confident in the leadership of Gach and his staff.” 

Stu Engen's departure marks the end of an era for NDSCS Athletics. Engen, who was named the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Director of Athletics on May 30, 2012, transformed the Wildcats into a basketball powerhouse. Under his leadership, the team achieved a record of 323-60, won seven Region XIII titles, and secured seven Mon-Dak Conference championships, among numerous other accolades. Engen's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of Wildcats. 

The search is currently underway for a new Athletic Director. 

More information about the NDSCS Basketball Program can be found here: NDSCSWildcats.com/Sports/MBKB 

For More Information or to Schedule Interviews: 
Lee Schwartz, Director of Marketing | 701-306-4497 | Lee.Schwartz@ndscs.edu 
Gach Gach, Interim Head Men’s Basketball Coach | 507-279-7025 | Gach.Gach@ndscs.edu 

Go Wildcats! Following season-long wins — including being Mon-Dak Champions, Region XIII Champions, and North Central District Champions — the NJCAA has announced that the NDSCS Women’s Basketball team will be traveling to Lubbock, Texas to play in the DI National Championship Tournament. NDSCS Women’s Basketball finished off the season with a 29-4 record and is the No. 21 seed in the bracket. This is the second year in a row that NDSCS Women’s Basketball is making an appearance in the National Championship tournament.

The NDSCS Alumni Foundation is organizing a send-off for the team on Sunday, March 19th at 8:15 a.m. in the north parking lot of the Clair T. Blikre Activities Center, Wahpeton, N.D. The entire community is invited to join NDSCS in celebrating the team’s accomplishments and sending them off to Texas with well wishes. The team bus will leave at 8:30 a.m. with a parade escort out of town.

Wildcat Women’s Basketball plays their first game of the tournament against Eastern Arizona College at the RIP Griffin Center in Lubbock, Texas on Wednesday, March 22nd at 8 p.m. Wildcat fans cheering from home are invited to attend a community watch party at the Wilkin in Breckenridge, Minn. RSVP to the Wilkin is preferred.