Joe Austin was announced as Southwestern's Head Football Coach in February 2012, charged with reinstating football at a school that hasn't competed in the sport for over 62 years.

Austin came to Southwestern after transforming Hanover College's football program in a short time frame. In three years at Hanover he took a team that was in a decline to a rising star in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, finishing in second place the last two seasons.

Prior to Hanover, Austin guided the University of Dubuque to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time in 28 seasons. The Spartans finished 7-3 in 2007 and 6-4 in 2006 in a highly competitive Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. During that time Austin's offensive unit set 33 school records and in 2007 averaged 35.6 points and 433.4 offensive yards per game.

On his way to Dubuque Austin made stops in Augsburg College (MN) as the offensive coordinator for one season and was an offensive assistant coach at Concorida University (MN) for four seasons.

While at Concordia the Golden Bears finished ranked in the top 10 nationally at the NCAA Division II level in total offense (6th-2003, 7th-2002). Concorida averaged more than 35 points per game and set virtually every school passing, rushing and receiving record during his tenure.

A former small-college athlete, Austin played quarterback at St. Ambrose University (Iowa) for two seasons. He suffered a broken vertebrae in his back six games into his sophomore season. The injury, which required reconstructive surgery, ended his playing career but jump started his coaching career.

Austin earned a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Concordia in 2001 and has a master's degree in organizational management from Concordia in 2004.