Laura Hallauer is in her fourth season as an assistant coach with the USD soccer team.
The Coyotes achieved a team grade point average of 3.48 during the 2012-13 academic year - fifth-highest among South Dakota's 17 athletic programs. To that extent, senior Erin Bello was named to the Academic All-Summit League Team, the first Coyote to earn that distinction. Junior Jenny Teslow provided another first as she earned All-Summit League honors after leading the team in goals scored. Bello and Teslow were two of three upperclassmen found on the 2012 roster.
South Dakota's 2011 team was even younger. In fact, it was the youngest team in the nation as the USD coaching staff brought in 21 freshmen with its first USD recruiting class. And while there were growing pains with such a young lineup, there were clear signs of growth. The Coyotes won their Summit League debut, earning a 2-1 decision at home against Western Illinois. Six of the team's losses were by one goal including two decided in overtime. In addition, 17 players earned Academic All-League honors, which requires a 3.0 cumulative GPA. The Coyotes had 12 honorees in 2012.
Hallauer's first season was highlighted by six Great West Player of the Week awards. The Coyotes had no seniors and two juniors on their roster. Despite the youth, the team won four games including two against future Summit League foes Kansas City and Western Illinois. USD also had four one-goal losses.
Academically, the 2010 team had a team GPA of 3.28 and earned the National Soccer Coaches Association/Adidas Women's Team Academic Award. South Dakota has earned the award in all prior seasons under the current USD coaching staff.
Hallauer, a native of Aurora, Colo., was a midfielder on the USD soccer team from 2001-04. She scored 11 goals and finished with 31 career points. She had four game-winning goals in her career. Hallauer was a captain on USD's 2004 team that won the 2004 North Central Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA Division II national tournament for the first time. Hallauer ranks fifth in USD history in career assists with nine and is 11th all-time in points scored.
She joined the Saint Joseph's College women's soccer coaching staff in the fall of 2008 for two years, and also was the softball program's strength and conditioning coach.
Hallauer graduated from USD in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in contemporary media journalism (advertisting).
