A Class 4A state boys' basketball title, a coach of the year citation from his peers in the spring and recent high accolades from his alma mater, Augsburg College.

"It's been a great year," Osseo coach Tim Theisen said.

One of two recipients of the school's inaugural Alumni Coaching Excellence Award, Theisen was honored at last week's ceremony. He graduated from Augsburg in 1993 and has worked as a teacher and a coach in the Osseo school district for the past 18 years. In 2003, Theisen was named head boys' basketball and golf coach. Theisen led the Orioles to seven conference championships, four section titles and one state championship in the past 10 years.

"It's an honor to be put into the hall of fame, especially because they are honoring my coaching endeavors," Theisen said.

Theisen, a three-year letterwinner with the Augsburg basketball program, said the environment fueled his future success.

"We had good people at Augsburg," Theisen said. "My approach to coaching is to surround myself with good people. It's about being a part of family and including everybody."

Mounds Views takes share of conference tennis title

Mounds View's string of Suburban East Conference championships in girls' tennis was in jeopardy late last week, but the Mustangs edged Stillwater 5-2 to claim a share of the conference title. In the match's most anticipated meeting, Summer Brills beat Natalie Phippen 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 at No. 1 singles.

Heading into the match, Stillwater was 8-0 in the conference while Mounds View, upset by Hastings on Sept. 6, was 7-1. Only once since the SEC was formed in 2000-01 has Mounds View not won or shared the title.

St. Anthony earns national excellence award

St. Anthony Village High School received the National Interscholastic Program of Excellence Award from Coach and Athletic Director magazine. St. Anthony was one of only four schools to be recognized nationally. It won the award for public schools with fewer than 1,000 students.

Kevin Hoffman, associate editor of Coach and Athletic Director magazine, will present the award on Saturday afternoon between the first and second quarters of St. Anthony's homecoming football game against Brooklyn Center.