Mount Marty University

Coach Collin Authier
Head Coach, Men's Basketball | Mount Marty University

Coach Collin Authier enters his fifth year as the head coach of the Mount Marty University Lancer men’s basketball program and has more than 18 years of college basketball coaching experience. Since taking the reins of the program, Authier has established a strong foundation for sustained success, bringing stability, consistency, and a clear identity to Lancer basketball. His leadership has helped transform the program both on the court and in the classroom while fostering a culture centered on academic achievement, personal development, and service.

The 2025–26 season marked a significant milestone in the growth of the Lancer program. Mount Marty recorded the best season in program history in GPAC play, finishing third in the conference with 13 GPAC victories. The 13 conference wins represented a dramatic transformation from the program's previous history, as Mount Marty averaged just 3.7 conference wins per season from 2006–07 through 2020–21. The Lancers also continued to establish themselves as a competitive program within one of the nation's premier NAIA basketball conferences.

Under Authier's guidance, the Lancers have made significant strides academically. The team's GPA has risen to more than 3.5, placing Mount Marty among the Top 15 men's basketball programs nationally for academic performance. His commitment to academic success reflects his belief that student-athletes should be challenged and supported in every area of their lives.

Authier has also implemented a comprehensive community service program that has resulted in more than 1,000 hours of volunteer service annually. The initiative has strengthened team unity while emphasizing the importance of giving back to the Mount Marty and Yankton communities.

Authier's leadership philosophy is built around academic achievement, character development, service, and competitive excellence—values that align closely with Mount Marty University's Benedictine mission. He believes success in basketball is only one piece of the student-athlete experience and is committed to preparing his players to excel during their time at Mount Marty and long after graduation.

“I want each student-athlete to have the best opportunity to be successful in all aspects of life. We will build a first-class culture of success and work continuously to achieve our goals so Lancer fans will be proud of what we do.”

During his time at Mount Marty, Authier has continued to build a program capable of competing at a high level while developing student-athletes on and off the court. His emphasis on culture, player development, recruiting, academics, and community engagement has helped establish a clear direction for the future of Lancer basketball.

Before joining Mount Marty, Authier spent seven seasons at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, serving as associate head coach. During his tenure, the Vikings captured the 2016 NCAA Division II National Championship and posted a 151-57 record in his time as an assistant coach. Authier played a key role in the development of 30 All-Conference selections, 43 Academic All-Conference selections, and five Freshmen of the Year.

Prior to Augustana, Authier served as assistant to the head coach at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi under head coach Willis Wilson. During his time with the Islanders, he played an integral role in an academic transformation that saw the team's GPA reach an all-time high.

Authier's combination of coaching experience, leadership, and commitment to student-athlete development were key factors in his selection as Mount Marty's head men's basketball coach. His experience at the NCAA Division I and Division II levels, along with his background as part of a national championship program, has provided a strong foundation for building Lancer basketball.

Since arriving at Mount Marty, Authier has continued to establish a program built on culture, consistency, accountability, academic excellence, service, and competitive success, with the goal of developing student-athletes who represent Mount Marty University with pride and are prepared to lead both on the basketball court and in their communities.

Authier at Mount Marty