Joshua Steffen was named Interim Director of Athletics prior to the start of the 2026-27 academic year.
With nearly 25 years of experience in collegiate athletics, Steffen has worked across the region in both NAIA and NCAA Division III, bringing valuable knowledge to Alverno. His administrative experience is highlighted by an 11-month stint as Interim Athletic Director at Stephens College in his nearly three year tenure at the institution, where he was the Assistant Athletic Director prior. There he helped run the department and handled various compliance duties while leading the department and its several programs. He has already served as an administrator in his roles through Athletic Communications, as he was the Director of Athletic Communications in his time at Mount Mary, while also serving as the Sports Information Director at Stephens in two six-month periods.
Steffen arrives to Alverno after five seasons at Mount Mary in Milwaukee, a primarily women's institution. There, he helped lead the team to unprecedented success, particularly in the 2023-24 season. From the start of the 2022-23 season to present, Steffen directed the winningest span in the history of their program. The 2023-24 season marked a high point for Mount Mary Basketball, as the team's 12-12 record set new program records for wins, winning percentage, home wins, road wins, NCAA wins, and was the first winning regular season in the team's history. He also became the record holder for wins in the program's history, setting the new program mark in the 2025-26 season. In his time as coach, he also had two Coast to Coast Conference Rookie of the Year winners. Steffen also served as the Director of Athletic Communications at Mount Mary.
Before joining Mount Mary, Steffen had over 14 years of head coaching experience, with nearly three years at Stephens College preceding his next stop in Milwaukee. At Stephens, an NAIA-affiliated women’s college in Columbia, Missouri, Steffen led the Stars for two seasons, during which he was responsible for all recruiting, scouting, and player development. He also served as Interim Athletic Director for an 11-month period and handled various compliance duties for the Athletics Department.
Before Stephens, Steffen served as the head women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division III and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference affiliate Concordia University Chicago in River Forest, Ill., from 2008-2014. He was also head coach at NAIA-affiliate Concordia University Ann Arbor (Mich.) from 2002-2008.
Between his stints at CUC and Stephens, Steffen served as Director of Admissions and Varsity Boys Basketball Coach at Living Word Lutheran High School in Jackson, Wis., where he was responsible for all admissions and marketing efforts for the high school.
The Champaign, Ill., native attended Milwaukee Lutheran High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Wisconsin Lutheran College in 2001, where he also played basketball for the Warriors for four years. He went on to earn a Master of Sports Science in coaching from the United States Sports Academy in 2006.
- Head Basketball Coach and Director of Athletic Communications at Mount Mary University (May 2021 - May 2026)
- Head Basketball Coach, Assistant Athletic Director, and Sports Information Director (SID)at Stephens College (April 2018 - March 2021)
- Interim Athletic Director for 11-month stint
- Varsity Boy's Basketball Coach and Director of Admissions at Living Word Lutheran High (March 2014 - April 2018)
- Head Women's Basketball Coach at Concordia University Chicago (June 2008 - March 2014)
- Head & Assistant Women's Basketball Coach and Assistant Sports Information Director at Concordia University (MI) (August 2002 - May 2008)
- 1.5 years as assistant, 4.5 as head coach
