Sharon Espeland served as Concordia's Head Women's Cross-Country coach from 1996-1998. Sharon moved to Bismarck in June, 1999 to take a postion at the University of May. She was succeeded as head women's cross country coach by Marv Roeske. 

While at Concordia she  also served as the Assistant Director of Residential Life and director of Concordia’s apartment complexes. 

Sharon is a 1991 graduate of Concordia College with a degree in Social Studies Education. While at Concordia as a student she competed on the cross-country and track teams, earning all-MIAC and academic all-America status. Her 1990 team won the MIAC title and advanced to NCAA Nationals. That  Cobber women's Cross Country team finished 9th inthe nation  and had the highest women's cross country team GPA in the  nation. 

  After graduation from Concordia, Sharon taught Social Studies to  junior and senior high school students in Brooklyn Center, MN. In addition to teaching, Sharon coached the boys cross-country and track teams.