Assistant Coach Sam Bjorling joined the Tiger coaching staff in Fall 2011. Prior to Doane, he spent the previous four seasons at Valley City State University while at the same time, earning his Master's Degree from North Dakota State University. In Summer 2011, he was the Hitting Coach for the Duluth Huskies of the Northwoods League, a summer league the featured four Doane Tigers in 2011.
At Valley City State, Bjorling was the Hitting Coach for the Vikings as well as Recruiting Coordinator. The 2010 season saw a pair of school records fall as the squad broke the mark for hits and doubles in a season. During his time at VCSU, the individual career record for hits and RBIs also fell.
During the summer of 2010, he found his way to Arizona and was the Head Coach of the Arizona Hornets of the Arizona Collegiate Wood Bat League. Here, he would coach players from all levels, ranging from NAIA to NCAA and junior colleges.
He has also served as the Head Coach for the American Legion programs in Valley City, earning sectional runner-up in 2008 and sectional champion and state qualifier in 2009.
Bjorling's coaching career began in Iowa City where he graduated from the University of Iowa. As an assistant for the Iowa City Little Hawks High School team, the team posted a 146-56 record over five years. While coaching in Iowa City, Bjorling also served as Head Coach of the Johnson County American Legion program from 2005-07. The Johnnies won back-to-back state titles in 2005 and 2006 with Bjorling leaving with a 70-29 record over three seasons.
Prior to making the move to the University of Iowa, Bjorling played baseball at the University of Dubuque. He was an outfielder for the Spartans. A Council Bluffs, Iowa, native, Bjorling was a member of the 1999 2-A state champion St. Albert High School team.