Bemidji State University Director of Athletics Rick Goeb has named four finalists for the position of head men’s basketball coach at BSU. The four finalists are Al Biancalana (University of Illinois-Chicago), Mike Boschee (Central College, Iowa), Austin Hansen (South Dakota State University) and Jeff Hironaka (Washington State University).

Interviews with each candidate will be conducted June 19-22 on the campus of the Bemidji State.

Al Biancalana

Biancalana completed his second season as associate head coach at University of Illinois-Chicago in 2011-12. At UIC his primary duties included on-floor coaching, individual development, recruiting and community service. Prior to his time at UIC, Biancalana earned collegiate coaching experience at Bradley University as the first assistant from 1999-2005. At the high school level he owns 17 years of head coaching experience, including a California State Championship. Between his college jobs he was the head coach at York High School (2005-10) in Elmhurst, Ill., where he compiled a 90-51 (.638) record. Overall, his head coaching record at the high school level is 323-171 (.654), which includes a 35-16 (.686) record in post season tournament play. Biancalana completed his undergraduate degree in physical education at Elmhurst College (Ill) in 1982 and a masters degree in educational administration from National University (Calif.) in 1993.

Mike Boschee

Boschee completed his ninth season as head men’s basketball coach at Central College in Pella, Iowa in 2011-12. During the last three years he has guided Central College to a 53-26 (.671) record, an Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) championships, the school’s first IIAC conference tournament and a trip to the NCAA Division III National Tournament. During his time as head coach he has earned DIIIHoops.com West Region Coach of the Year, Iowa Basketball Coaches Association College Coach of the Year and Iowa Conference Coach of the Year. Under his tutelage, Boschee has developed 17 all-conference performers, including a conference most valuable player. Prior to Central College he was an assistant at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minn. from 1993-2003. At Gustavus, he helped guide the team to an NCAA Division III National Tournament appearance in seven of his last eight seasons at the school. Boschee earned his bachelors degree in recreation management from University of North Dakota in 1991, where he was an all-region performer under former Beaver and BSU Athletic Hall of Fame member Rich Glas for the UND men’s basketball team. He completed his masters degree in teaching, while serving as a graduate assistant coach at Northern State University (Aberdeen, S.D.) in 1993.

Austin Hansen

Hansen completed his fourth year as an assistant coach at South Dakota State University in 2011-12. His major responsibilities at SDSU are recruiting coordinator, on-floor coaching, player development and preparing game and practice plans. The Jackrabbits won the Summit League Conference Tournament and made an appearance in the NCAA Division I Tournament last season after compiling 27 wins to tie the school record. Hansen was the top recruiter for the school’s first-ever Division I All-American. Prior to his stint at SDSU he served five seasons as an assistant coach at Minnesota State University, Mankato. After completing his graduate work in human performance and graduate assistantship at Minnesota State, Hansen stayed on as an assistant where he evaluated talent, participated in all phases of on-court coaching, formulated practice plans and prepared scouting reports on opponents. He earned his masters degree from MSU in 2005 and an undergraduate degree in health education from SDSU in 2003.  

Jeff Hironaka

Hironaka completed his third season as an assistant coach at Washington State University in 2011-12. During his time at Washington State the team had three PAC-12 all-conference team members and one conference freshman team member. Prior to his stint at WSU, Hironaka was the head men’s basketball coach at Seattle Pacific University where he compiled a 134-67 (.667) record from 2002-09. During his seven seasons as head coach the team made the NCAA Division II National Tournament five times, including a final four appearance in 2006. The squad earned conference championships on two occasions under Hironaka, as he has guided 13 all-conference performers, including two All-Americans. Before assuming the role of head coach he served 11 seasons as an assistant coach (1991-96) and associate head coach (1996-2002) at Seattle Pacific. Hironaka earned an undergraduate degree in secondary education from Eastern Oregon State College and a masters degree in athletic administration and PE from Idaho State University, while serving as an assistant coach (1987-90).