The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball program announced the hiring of Cal Fougner as assistant coach. Fougner joins a staff including Head Coach Steve Gust, Assistant Coach Rich Loomis, Assistant Coach Clarke Peterson, and Assistant Coach Kaiden Zacharias. Fougner joins UMC after serving as head coach at Northland College in Ashland, Wis., which closed its doors at the conclusion of the 2024-25 academic year.
“Cal brings some great experience to our program,” said Head Coach Steve Gust. “I like the fact he has coached at different levels and in varying roles. As a former head coach, he has the ability to see things differently, which gives us a different perspective. Cal will be responsible for a variety of roles within our program. I think he’s a great fit to help our program continue to develop.”
Fougner spent two seasons with the Lumberjacks. She helped the Jacks to the most wins of any team during his two seasons as head coach. Fougner helped coach Ridge Guyette, and Caden Willis to UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades in 2025. He increased roster size during his time at Northland. Fougner also improved team GPA, and helped three student-athletes to Academic All-District honors. The Jacks hit .255 with 12 home runs, and 163 RBI during the 2025 slate. He implemented tech-driven individualized development programs for hitting, fielding, pitching, and strength/speed using Driveline principles, Rapsodo, Blast Motion, radar, and video. In 2024, he helped Matt Simpson, and Tyler Murphy to UMAC All-Conference Honorable Mention honors.
Prior to his arrival in Ashland, Fougner served as an assistant coach, pitching coach, and recruiting coordinator from 2020-23 at Valley City State University in Valley City, N.D. He helped lead recruiting efforts for the Vikings. Fougner helped Valley City State set a school record for home runs, strikeouts by pitchers, and helped them to a national ranking in opponent batting average. He had student-athletes recognized with 17 NAIA Scholar Athletes, two scholar team awards, 23 All-Conference selections, and an NAIA All-American, with three players moving on to play professionally.
Prior to his experience with Valley City State, Fougner spent 2013-20 as the head coach at Duluth Denfeld High School. He transformed an underperforming program at Denfeld into a state tournament qualifier, their first since 1954. He improved college recruitment by almost 300 percent. He also helped build team culture, and aided in fundraising. In addition, Fougner helped Denfeld to the 2017 Section 7AAA finals, the 2019 Section 7AAA Championship, and he was named the 7AAA Coach of the Year.
Fougner also coached as head coach at Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in 2012. He also helped found the Twin Port North Stars, and the Moorhead Expos, and was a student assistant coach at the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2009-10.
Fougner competed in baseball for Wisconsin-Superior from 2005-09, playing as a pitcher, catcher, and outfielder. He earned the Lunchpail Award for his hard work, and was on the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll. Fougner is in the process of earning his Master of Education from Valley City State University. He received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in 2010. Fougner is a native of Fargo, N.D.