Damon Helgevold enters year five as the Columbia College head women’s bowling coach in the fall of 2025. Since being tabbed as the second coach in program history, Helgevold has seen the growth of a young program. During his tenure, the Cougar bowling team has won one team tournament, qualified and been selected for two USBC ITC Sectionals, had four individual tournament champions, eight All-Tournament Team members, one NAIA All-American, 13 NAIA Scholar-Athletes, 20 NCBCA Academic All-Americans.
In the 2024-2025 season, the Cougars rewrote the record books. The best season statistically in program history, saw the Cougars win their first ever tournament at the Morningside Mustang Invite in Sioux City, Iowa. Earlier in the year, with only five players, the Cougars placed second at the Jayhawk Challenge in Lawrence, Kansas. They added another trophy by placing second at the Avila Eagle Invite in January. Columbia hosted their first ever tournament on January 18th and 19th, 2025. Then, the Heart of America Conference hosted the Bowling Championships in Columbia.
Columbia joined the Heart of America as an affiliate member for bowling in the 2024-2025 season. They won the elimination bracket to end up in the Conference Championship Match for the first time in program history. Culver-Stockton would prevail 2-1 in the title match. Helgevold led the Cougars to their best finish in a conference tournament ever. The 2024-2025 campaign ended with the Cougars second straight trip to the USBC ITC Sectionals, this time in Fort Worth, Texas. Columbia amassed two All-Tournament Team members, setting two of the top three highest individual finishes at a Tier I event, four NAIA Scholar-Athletes and six NCBCA Academic All-Americans.
The 2023-2024 season saw the Cougars qualify for their second ever USBC ITC Sectionals in Addison, Illinois. This was the first appearance since 2021. During the Sectionals Tournament, the Cougars set the single Baker game school record by shooting a 257. At the Clarke Invite, the Cougars would place runner-ups to champion Ottawa. They would finish 3rd in the AMC/KCAC/GPAC Conference Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas. That season wrapped up with two All-Tournament team members, two NAIA Scholar-athletes and six NCBCA Academic All-Americans.
During the 2022-2023 season, Helgevold led the Cougars to a banner year. Columbia earned their first NAIA All-American in bowling. Sophomore Jordyn Czerw earned second team All-American honors and broke five school records. As a team, the Cougars set six new school records including placing third at the AMC/KCAC/GPAC Conference Tournament in Belton, Missouri. At the Clash of the Spartans held in St. Charles, Missouri, the Cougars finished runner up and came from the 6-seed in the qualifying standings. The 2022-2023 season ended with four All-Tournament Team members, four NAIA Scholar-Athletes and four NCBCA Academic All-Americans. In the final NAIA RPI rankings the Cougars finished 29th, their highest ranking ever.
The inaugural year for Helgevold at the helm was the 2021-2022 season. He was hired in August and led the program as the second ever coach. During his first campaign as the head coach, the Cougars collected some new highs. Columbia achieved a new 5 game team total under Helgevold at the Tier I Kegel Midwest Collegiate.
Helgevold, a native of Osceola, Iowa, came to Columbia College after serving as the Assistant Bowling Coach at Clarke Community High School. While on staff, he helped a girl's squad qualify for the state tournament for the first time in six seasons.
Helgevold was a four-year letter winner at Clarke High School, where he led Clarke to two state tournaments (2012 and 2015). He held the highest team average three times, and was a four-time All-District Bowler being named District Bowler of the Year twice.
Helgevold bowled at Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he was a member of three United States Bowling Congress (USBC) Team Sectionals Qualifying teams and a three-time NCBCA Academic All-American.
