Some boosters want South Dakota’s Augustana on bigger stage

Augustana University in Sioux Falls will have a powerful ally if it decides to move up to NCAA Division I athletics.

Sanford Health CEO Kelby Krabbenhoft thinks it’s a good idea and he would help with the most important step: finding money. Krabbenhoft has raised hundreds of millions dollars. He’s also worked on projects with hospital namesake T. Denny Sanford and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Krabbenhoft says many pieces are in place in the burgeoning community and the school needs to decide if it wants to be like a Notre Dame or a Creighton.

School President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin says the time is right to explore Division I athletics as part of a discussion to make the university bigger and better.