Coach Axel Bundgaard Bundgaard was the athletic director and head basketball coach at Wartburg from the 1947-48 season until the 1960-61 season. He took a leave-of-absence in 1955-56 to work on his doctorate at the University of Iowa. He played a key role in creating the foundation that has produced today’s successes. Before Bundgaard took over the reins of the program, the Knights had won only one Iowa Conference championship (a tie with Loras in tennis) during 12 years in the league. Bundgaard’s basketball teams compiled a 187-114 record, posted 10 straight winning seasons, won four Iowa Conference championships, and made six postseason NAIA or NCAA appearances. He also was assistant and head coach in track and an assistant in football. He left Wartburg to become athletic director at South Dakota State and later at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.